State NAACP opposes voter ID measure

Chapel outlines organization's voting positions

Rod Chapel poses in his Jefferson City law office. Chapel, the NAACP state president, spoke about the NAACP's voting positions at a meeting Thursday at Quinn Chapel A.M.E.
Rod Chapel poses in his Jefferson City law office. Chapel, the NAACP state president, spoke about the NAACP's voting positions at a meeting Thursday at Quinn Chapel A.M.E.

From the Missouri NAACP's position, voting on the issues on the Nov. 8 general election ballot should be pretty clear.

The state organization recommends Missourians vote for Amendment 1, the extension of the Parks and Soils tax, and against all the other ballot issues - except for Amendment 3, the phased-in, 60-cents over four years increase on cigarette taxes to benefit preschool education.

NAACP State President Rod Chapel told about a dozen people Thursday night the organization didn't take a position on that one because leaders and members are "conflicted over this issue."

Overall, he said: "We support goals and objectives - like fairness and equality - for people. We don't really support candidates.

"There are a number of candidates on the ballot - I wouldn't presume to tell you how to vote for those folks."

But the organization is front-and-center against Amendment 6, the proposed change to the state Constitution that would allow lawmakers to pass a law requiring certain, specified forms of photo identification to be used before one can vote in-person at a polling place.

"The right to vote really separates America from many other countries," Chapel said. "Missouri is one of the few states that has the right to vote within its Constitution.

"I think that's important and something that we shouldn't let go."

Missouri's Constitution has "right to vote" provisions in a couple of places.

In the Bill of Rights, Article I, Section 25 says: "All elections shall be free and open; and no power, civil or military, shall at any time interfere to prevent the free exercise of the right of suffrage."

And Article VIII, which sets out the state's constitutional rules for elections, says in Section 2: "All citizens of the United States, including occupants of soldiers' and sailors' homes, over the age of eighteen who are residents of this state and of the political subdivision in which they offer to vote are entitled to vote at all elections by the people "

The only restrictions are being registered before the election and living in the voting district for at least 30 days before the election.

The only Missouri exceptions to the voting right are someone who has "mental incapacity," as determined by a court; someone "who is involuntarily confined in a mental institution" by a court; or "persons convicted of felony, or crime connected with the exercise of the right of suffrage," who "may be excluded by law" from voting.

Chapel said the proposed voter ID amendment interferes with right to vote.

"The counter-argument has always been that there's a lot of voter fraud going on," he said. "But there's no voter fraud that's ever highlighted."

Chapel spoke to the group meeting at Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church.

Using a Cole County sample ballot, he also walked the audience through other ballot issues.

Amendment 1 renews the one-tenth cent sales tax for state parks and soil conservation. It sunsets every 10 years unless renewed by voters.

"It's a straight tax that could be, adequately, dealt with in the statutes," he said. "But it already has been in the Constitution. I like the idea of the state of Missouri taking care of public lands."

Amendment 2 proposes to restore campaign finance limits, which Missouri hasn't had since 2005, and regulate how some labor unions and businesses can make contributions.

"One of the arguments you'll hear against Amendment 2 (is), 'Why are we messing with the Constitution when we could put a statute forward to do the same thing?'" Chapel explained, noting supporters "wonder about the Legislature's ability to limit itself, to self-regulate."

Amendment 3 "is one of the most complicated provisions that we've seen. There's a lot of moving pieces to it," Chapel said.

Supporters like that it provides money for early childhood education, since "Missouri's not doing a good job," he said. "Learning between (ages) 1 and 5 is critical."

Some in the NAACP argue against amending the Constitution when lawmakers should be solving the problem through laws, Chapel added, while others question "whether or not this (tobacco taxes increase) is a proper funding mechanism" for early childhood education.

Amendment 4 would prohibit a new state or local sales/use or other similar tax on any service or transaction that wasn't taxed as of Jan. 1, 2015.

Noting most taxes in the state are set by statute, he said the NAACP position is to leave the taxing decision to lawmakers.

"While Missouri has a process that allows us to amend the Constitution (more easily) than, certainly, the federal government," Chapel said, "I think it's important not to abuse that process.

"Don't put things that statutes were made to regulate into the Constitution."

Proposition A is the other, smaller tobacco tax increase voters are being asked to approve, with the money used for road and bridge improvements around the state.

The proposed law - it doesn't change the Constitution the way Amendment 3 would - also contains a provision that its proposed tax increase is repealed if any measure to increase any tax or fee on cigarettes or other tobacco products is placed on any local or statewide ballot.

"My thought is, go back to the Legislature," Chapel said. "If we want a tax, we'll figure out what it ought to be."