Court Rulings Change Voter ID Requirements at Polls

Recent court rulings have loosened voter ID requirements at polling locations around the state, including Worth County. On October 23rd, a judge issued an injunction blocking implementation of the voter-approved Voter ID law. This means that for the purposes of this election, Missouri will be under the old rules for showing Voter ID.

Option 1
Voters may show a Missouri Driver’s License, a Missouri Non-Driver’s License, a US Passport, or a Military ID Card to vote.

Option 2
Voters may now show a Voter Registration Card, an ID from a Missouri University, College, Vocational, or Technical School, a utility bill, a bank statement, government checks, paychecks, or any other government document showing your name and address. Showing one of these forms of identification will allow you to vote. Previously, voters had to sign an affidavit and return with an Option 1 ID or vote with a provisional ballot.

Option 3
If you have no ID on you when you vote, you can vote with a provisional ballot, leave and then come back to your polling place with an Option 1 ID. If you do, your vote counts. If your signature matches the signature in the voter registry, your vote will count.

In Missouri, polls will open at 6 am and close at 7 pm. If you are in line at 7 pm, you will be allowed to vote.

On Tuesday afternoon, another court revived a lawsuit filed by the ACLU and another civil rights group seeking to stop implementation of the Voter ID Law. The Western District Court of Appeals overturned a lower court’s dismissal of the suit, which seeks to stop implementation, saying the state failed to provide adequate education about the new requirements.