How do we encourage voting, while ensuring against voter fraud?
For our democracy to flourish, that should be our collective goal. However, our Republican-led Missouri Legislature is again erring on the side of guarding against fraud.
The Missouri Independent recently reported the Missouri House passed a bill requiring voters to either have to get a government-issued photo ID or only be allowed to cast a provisional ballot on Election Day.
Currently, voters may cast a ballot if they have a photo ID with their current address or if they have several other forms of identification, including a utility bill or voter registration card with their current address.
The current system hasn't posed problems that demonstrate the need for the legislation being considered. Courts have agreed while ruling on similar past legislation.
After a 2006 law mandated state- or federally-issued ID for voting, it was struck down as unconstitutional because there was no evidence of voter fraud and it infringed on people's right to vote.
Lawmakers let voters decide in 2016 whether to allow someone to cast a ballot without a state-approved photo ID only after signing an affidavit under the penalty of perjury.
The Missouri Supreme Court struck down the affidavit because it deemed it to be "misleading," and therefore unconstitutional, the Missouri Independent reported. In the same ruling, the court considered the state's request to strike the non-photo ID options altogether - which is what one bill would do - and concluded it posed "constitutional concerns and could not have been adopted by this Court."
Obviously, there needs to be some voter ID requirements to ensure a secure and accurate election process.
Let's encourage Missourians to vote with the least number of barriers that will accomplish that. Too many times, we see proposed restrictions that are unnecessary, costly and partisan.