Dear Editor:
Democracy is sacred in America. Throughout our history, we have spent our time, our money and our resources to help spread democracy throughout the rest of the world. We have shed American blood on our own soil and on foreign soil and we continue to engage in wars to help other countries have what we have.
Yet in our own country, we continue to question the rights of our own citizens. Even though our Constitution mentions the right to vote more times than any other constitutional right, we still struggle with the idea that voting is a right of every eligible citizen. Our legislators act as though voting is a privilege handed out by the most powerful to those they deem the most deserving.
Our state Legislature recently passed two alarming measures that, according to the Missouri secretary of state, could disenfranchise over 200,00 voters. The first, HB1631, requires a government issued photo ID to vote. In the situation that a voter does not have a photo ID, the state claims they will pay for the voter to get one. The state estimates this could cost the taxpayers upwards of $17 million, but places no cap on the potential expense. How far is the state willing to go to ensure all eligible voters can get the documentation required? Birth certificates are required to obtain a driver's license or non-driver's license and can cost over $100 in some states, with many requiring the certificate to be picked up in person. Will the state cover travel costs as well?
Our Legislature has previously passed similar laws but those bills failed to withstand constitutional challenges before the Missouri Supreme Court. This has led to the second extreme measure, HJR53. This legislation will ask the voters to amend the Missouri constitution to allow the state to require a government issued photo ID at the polls. The state estimates this proposal will cost taxpayers an estimated $7 million. It's hard to believe our Republican-led Legislature is willing to spend over $24 million between these two misguided pieces of legislation when our roads are crumbling, our schools are hurting and our children are hungry.
The Cole County Democrats strongly urge voters to reject this proposed ballot measure in November and send a message to our legislators that our constitutional right to vote is just that - right.
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