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.

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft Visits Worth County; Tours School and Promotes ID Law

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft came to Worth County to talk to students at the school and to promote the voter-approved Voter ID Law that his office is tasked with administering. He visited the Courthouse along with the School. He was accompanied by Second District State Representative J. Eggleston along with First District State Representative Allen Andrews. Ashcroft said that it was not about whether he won, but whether the people of Missouri won. “It’s all about restoring integrity to the electoral process,” he said. He said that “if you’re registered, you can vote” and that under the old law, some people were being turned away.

The Missouri Secretary of State is charged with administering elections and handling corporate registrations. They also administer the records and archives for the state. If the name sounds familiar to people, he is the son of John Ashcroft, who served as governor, senator, and George W. Bush’s attorney general. He said that he sees his role as a facilitator. “If you have a problem and you don’t know who to call, give our office a call and we’ll direct you to the right office,” he said.
Ashcroft has been touring the state collecting feedback from citizens. “I can never know everything you know,” he said. “You know how to run your own lives; we don’t. It’s not about getting the Republicans or Democrats in charge; it’s about good government.”

The Voter ID law requires voters to prove citizenship in order to vote in the State of Missouri. As part of the law, Ashcroft said his office was in the process of figuring out who was eligible to vote and who wasn’t. “I don’t live here, so I can’t vote here,” said Ashcroft. “That way, my vote won’t be canceled out by someone who can’t vote here.” He said that several people had already been prosecuted for vote fraud recently.

For instance, in 2015, a woman was prosecuted for voting twice in an election in Greene County according to the Missouri Times. In 2010, according to Ballotpedia, there was a case where there were 24 different voting discrepancies during a Jackson County House primary election, which was won by one of the contestants by one vote. One voter allegedly lived outside the district, but was a contributor to the winning candidate and who voted in the district. Two voters had a residence that was abandoned and boarded up. Three voters admitted to KCTV that they were residents outside the county, but were related to the winning candidate.

Ashcroft said there was no reporting mechanism at the statewide level to see how widespread fraud was, but that his office was setting up such a reporting mechanism. Normally, he said his office gets involved when local prosecutors call in asking for help in a fraud case.

On the other hand, Ashcroft said he was impressed with the dedication of some of Missouri’s poll workers. For instance, there was a tornado in McDonald County in April of this year during the municipal elections. The poll workers took shelter between 6 and 6:30 that day, then came back to reopen the polling station in case one more person wanted to vote before the polls closed at 7 pm. “If one person is turned away when they are legally entitled to vote, it’s a great wrong,” he said.

Ashcroft took a tour of the school, including the Partnership Library. He said he was impressed at the level of partnership that went into building the facility. “Somehow, we’ve divorced our libraries from education,” he said. “We need them to be places where anyone with the mental and physical capacity to learn can do so.” He said he was impressed with the football team as well. “You didn’t get here without hard work,” he told the football players. “It’s all paid off, and I love how you’ve brought this whole community together.” He also gave a brief talk to Karen Andrews’ eighth grade Social Studies class. They were working on heroes and traitors, selecting a major American historical figure and deciding whether they were a hero or a traitor to the country.

A Moment with Mike -- Action Picking Up on House Floor

      Last week saw action pick up on the House floor as priority bills begin to move from committee and come before the House members for debate and approval.  One piece of legislation approved would allow schools, hospitals and courthouses to keep their security plans and measures out of the hands of those who might misuse the information.  This bill came forward in response to a section of Missouri’s Sunshine Law that expired at the end of 2012. That expired section exempted security procedures and plans from the open records law. 

      I strongly support  the Missouri sunshine laws that help ensure the accountability of our public officials and government activities.  However, there is sometimes a fine line between public information and public safety.  In the wake of the tragedy that took place in Connecticut and other invasions of public buildings, it is absolutely necessary that security procedures and response plans are not made available to those who do not need to know.  Safety for our children in their schools and for Missouri citizens in public buildings is an absolute must and this bill will move us in the right direction.

      Another piece of legislation that received approval from the full House of Representatives last week dealt with voter ID.  The Joint Resolution passed creates a voter ID ballot measure that would have to be voted on by the people.  House bills 48 and 216 provide the language that would be amended to our constitution if the ballot initiative passes.  The premise of the bill is very simple.  If you show up at the polling place to cast your vote, you should be able to prove that you are who you say you are.

      Critics of this bill argued that it would restrict some from the voting process.  The purpose, however, is to protect the sanctity of the process, to ensure that every vote counts by removing  the potential for fraud, and to give voters more confidence in the fairness as they exercise their rights.

      Another  issue that will continue to receive a great deal of discussion this year deals with a bond issuance proposal that would help pay for some of our state’s most pressing infrastructure needs.  Deferred maintenance and improvements to our schools, college campuses and state facilities, as well as our roads and highways, is a growing concern that we must address.  Unfortunately, because our budget situation has been difficult in recent years, paying for capital improvements with taxpayer dollars has not been a viable option.  I believe that most would also agree that raising taxes is not the answer.

      One solution to the dilemma is to use the state’s excellent credit rating to issue bonds  that could generate money for this purpose.  Combined with the fact that interest rates are approximately one third of what they were the last time the state issued bonds in 1982, the timing may be right to consider this proposal.

      A special committee formed last year reported that this initiative would create thousands of jobs, lower the unemployment rate in the construction industry and, of course, make significant progress toward improving our aging infrastructure in Missouri.  This may be one of few options that we have if we are to keep up with the needs in our state.  Obligating our state to a debt service, however, may be controversial in a time when government debt seems to grow faster than the ability to pay.

      This topic will garner a lot of attention this year and if a proposal is brought forward, it will probably be in the form of a ballot initiative so that the people of Missouri have a voice in the decision.

     If you have questions, you may reach me at my Capitol number 573-751-9465, at the local district number, 660-582-4014, by email at mike.thomson@house.mo.gov or by mail at Room 401B State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.

House endorses measures that would require photo ID to vote

By: Meghan Boggess
(MDN News) -- The Missouri House gave preliminary approval Wednesday night to measures that would allow Missouri voters to decide if the state's Constitution should be amended to require government-issued photo identification to vote. The legislation provoked heated debate over whether the proposals would endanger some citizens' right to vote, and if the threat of voter fraud warrants a compelling reason to amend the state's Constitution. Ultimately, the measure passed by a vote of 108 to 48 after hours of debate on the House floor.

Rep. Stanley Cox, R-Sedalia, sponsored the proposed Constitutional amendment and said it does not require anything else of citizens that they are not already required to prove in many areas of their lives.
"When you come to the fundamental right to cast a vote, and to be protected from fraud, we should expect nothing less," Cox said. "This is a common sense solution to a real problem."

If the amendment were approved, state law would then require voters to present some form of state or federal photo identification. If a voter could not present identification, they would be able to cast a provisional vote.

Rep. Genise Montecillo, D-St. Louis, said that the provisional ballots are not real ballots. Provisional ballots are not counted toward an election until election authorities determine their validity. In the case of federal elections, this can mean the votes are not counted until after a state has been called for a candidate.
Montecillo said she did not envy lawmakers voting for the bill when they would have to explain it to "their constituents, their families and their maker. We have men and women across the globe, fighting for our right, and our freedom...to vote. Explain that to them," Montecillo said, while addressing the supporters of the bill.
Rep. Noel Torpey, R-Independence, said that the bill would not disenfranchise anyone and that it was the right thing to do to fight voter fraud. "If I'm going to hell, it's not because of the vote I'm taking today," Torpey said.

Detractors cited concerns that the bill would disenfranchise minority groups based on race, age or income.
"Jim Crow is alive in this room today," said Rep. Chris Kelly, D-Columbia. In a statement, House Minority Leader Jake Hummel, D-St. Louis, said that when Republicans began to push for required photo identification in 2006, there had been no cases of voter impersonation. "Legally registered elderly, disabled, low-income and minority voters are real, and they tend to vote for Democrats. And they also account for the bulk of the estimated 250,000 Missouri voters who don't have a government-issued photo ID," Hummel said in the statement.

A similar bill was struck down in the Missouri Supreme Court in 2006. The court agreed the bill was unconstitutional with a 6-1 unsigned decision. "We took an oath to uphold the Constitution but then we want to pick and choose what provisions in the Constitution we want to protect," said Rep. Kimberly Gardner, D-St. Louis. The House approved the proposal Wednesday night after a lengthy debate during the day. The measures still need a final vote before heading to the Senate. The chamber also endorsed partner legislation to the resolution that would allow the state to issue a photo ID to those who do not already have one and would like one in order to vote if the amendment were to be approved.

A Moment with Mike -- Bills Moving Through Committees

      As we enter the second month of session the natural progression of the governmental process will bring more and more issues to light as the hundreds of bills filed begin to move through the committee process and on to the House Chamber  for discussion.

      Last week the Missouri House gave approval to a bill I mentioned in a previous report that is designed to reinstate several tax credit programs that encourage donations to charitable organizations.  Commonly referred to as benevolent tax credits, these programs offer a tax break to individuals who donate money to organizations like food pantries and pregnancy resource centers.  Unfortunately, some of the credits expired last year and the result has been a potential funding crisis for these non-profits.  Putting the benevolent credits back in place will rectify this and allow them to continue to serve where there is a need.  The total cost to our state will be approximately $2.9 million each year in forgone tax revenue, but the benefits this investment will produce for countless Missourians will be priceless.

      The House Elections Committee met last week to approve two pieces of legislation meant to ensure voter fraud doesn’t occur in Missouri.  One piece of legislation is a constitutional amendment that would allow Missourians to decide whether voters should have to show a form of photo identification at the polling place.  The second bill would put a voter ID system in place in the event voters approve the change to our state constitution.

      This is an issue the legislature has considered numerous times in recent years.  The legislature and the governor actually put a voter identification requirement into law in 2006, but it was ultimately struck down by the Missouri Supreme Court.  In 2011, the General Assembly approved a constitutional amendment to let voters decide on the issue, but it was kept off the ballot by a court decision last year.  This year, we hope to allow Missourians to decide once and for all if they should have to prove that they are who they say they are when they vote.  The goal of this legislation is not in any way to disenfranchise voters, but instead to make sure every vote counts and that every vote is cast by the person who is registered to cast it.  If passed, this legislation will bring about a change which will protect the integrity of the voting process.

      Also last week, the Joint Committee on Education unveiled the plan for a new funding model that determines the amount of state support for all of our public higher education institutions.  Last year the General Assembly passed a bill that would require the Joint Committee on Education to develop a model for funding public higher education institutions by December 31, 2013.  The way our funding process currently operates is by allocating money to schools based largely on what they’ve received in the past and what the state has available.  There is a continual argument about equity funding for our schools and the percentage raises or cuts that we have seen for years simply increases the disparity.

      The goal of the Joint Committee on Education was to develop a plan that was fair and equitable for all schools.  We can now move forward as we consider legislation that will possibly put this plan in place.

     If you have questions, you may reach me at my Capitol number 573-751-9465, at the local district number, 660-582-4014, by email at mike.thomson@house.mo.gov or by mail at Room 401B State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.

House panel looks at requiring photo ID to vote

Missouri House Republicans are once again pushing a constitutional amendment that would require Missouri voters to show valid, state-issued photo identification before they can cast full ballots in the state's elections.

In 2011, the legislature approved a state Constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to require photo IDs to vote, but a court battle prevented the measure from being placed on the statewide ballot.

Republicans argue that requiring photo identification will prevent voter fraud and say that such credentials are already needed to do many everyday things, such as rent a movie from a video store.

But Democrats, as well as advocates for people with disabilities, the elderly and  minorities, say the law would effectively block those voters from the ballot box by requiring them to provide documents they don't have, such as a birth certificate, or by imposing prohibitive costs, such as transportation to a state license office or the cost of a day off from work to get the identification.

Opinion: More Liberal Failure Botches an Election, Taxpayers at Risk of a Big Bill for a New Vote

by the Shane Scholler campaign

The 2012 primary elections demonstrated again why change and reform are
vitally needed to restore trustworthy elections by replacing liberal
establishment politicians like Robin Carnahan.  In a too close-to-call
race that depended on a single vote, Carnhanan’s lack of preparation
and support for local election officials leaves voters wondering who
actually won Missouri’s 87th House seat, and taxpayers exposed to the
possibility of a costly new election. In another demonstration of
decline in Missouri elections, the political talk of the town was the
repeated crashes of the liberal incumbent’s “new and improved” website
for election reports from Missouri counties.

However, while Carnahan was botching elections, Missouri voters put the
stamp of approval on Republican candidate Shane Schoeller and his
reform plans for the office of Secretary of State.  Schoeller’s
campaign has gained national attention for his focus on restoring
election integrity and bringing transparency back to the office of
Secretary of State with common-sense solutions including Voter ID and
citizen-oversight of ballot language to correct Carnahan’s notorious
practice of “loading the dice” with prejudiced wording of issue
descriptions. Now under challenge in Missouri courts is Carnahan’s
deceptive attempt to offer voters pro-ObamaCare language in an upcoming
November vote.

On the mess in House District 87, Schoeller voiced alarm at what he
termed a “readily-avoided error” that now leaves in absolute question
the true election outcome. “As Secretary of State, I will work in a
constructive and close partnership with local election authorities,”
Schoeller said. “My approach will be one of consistent and non-partisan
work to ensure the most accurate and trustworthy elections that voters
expect.”

“Missourians are saying clearly that they want a new direction in the
Secretary of State’s office,” Schoeller said.  “Between now and
November, I will continue discussing our plan to protect Missouri
elections from fraud, help provide small businesses with user-friendly
procedures and resources, and put the brakes on the needless and
expensive red tape that is killing jobs, preventing job growth, and
putting Missouri further behind our neighbors in building a future of
growth and opportunity for Missourians and Missouri families.”

Schoeller is the only candidate in the race with experience working in
the Secretary of State’s office, having served as a top aide for
then-Secretary of State Matt Blunt. Schoeller lives in Willard with his
wife, Mendie, and their three children. His conservative positions on
tax reform have earned him the support of many Missouri leaders,
including former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft.

Opinion -- Missouri Needs Voter ID

by Shane Scholler
GOP Candidate, Secretary of State

While Missouri conservatives work to protect the integrity of voting and elections, the Obama Justice Department is making yet another election-year effort to block more trustworthy elections.

In Florida, the liberal Obama Justice Department wants to derail Florida’s effort to remove unlawful names from the voter rolls. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder – whose own ballot was famously handed to an impostor who wasn’t asked to show ID – is way out front as an opponent of better voter ID. His agency recently warned Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner to stop removing dead voters from the state’s voter lists. Officials in Florida had uncovered 2,700 suspect registrations, and were checking these registrations. In response, Florida has said it will keep doing what it takes to clean up its voter rolls, so a court fight may be in store.

Meanwhile, here in Missouri, the 2012 Republican state convention voted to adopt a commonsense platform plank that every voter should be protected from having their ballot cancelled by voting fraud elsewhere.

In Missouri, we should wait no longer to establish solid ballot protection through photo ID for voters. No voter should be disenfranchised by voter fraud, inaccurate tallies or faulty voting equipment. As Secretary of State, I’ll work to enhance voter identification requirements to protect each voter, and other election systems.

If I am elected Secretary of State, my top priority will be protecting Missouri elections through common sense reforms like Voter ID.

Voter ID is a common-sense idea broadly supported by the public. It has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. In state after state, voter ID encounters partisan obstruction from liberal members of the Democrat Party.

Voter fraud is a true threat to the sanctity of American elections.  A Pew report release earlier this year indicated that more than 1.8 million dead people remain on voter rolls throughout the nation, and nearly 3 million people are registered to vote in two or more states. Missourians need a Secretary of State who will be a sincere and committed guardian of fair elections. The first step in this work should be photo ID at the polls, a form of ID used throughout society every day, for cashing a check and countless other routine tasks.

I look forward to the honor of helping to ensure honest elections and reforming Missouri’s outdated laws in order to protect the rights and freedom of every voter.
 

Senator Bill Stouffer Disappointed with Veto of Voter ID Measure

State Sen. Bill Stouffer, R-Napton, shares his disappointment over the governor’s veto of one of his top pieces of legislation from the 2011 legislative session.
“Senate Bill 3 was a way to bring Missouri into the 21st Century,” Sen. Stouffer said. “We have to have a picture ID to rent a movie or send something via UPS, but we don’t need one to vote. With his veto today, it’s a shame the governor doesn’t understand the necessity of this bill to fight voter fraud.”
Senate Bill 3 established guidelines for voter ID regulations in Missouri. Its companion legislation, Senate Joint Resolution 2, would have put the proposal on the Missouri ballot in November 2012. Also included in SB 3 was legislation that would have allowed early voting in Missouri.
“A lot of us put months of effort into crafting this bill to include various issues in the state, including early voting provisions,” Sen. Stouffer said. “Now, all of this hard work has been tossed aside by a single action. I’m hoping the Legislature will vote to override this veto when the Missouri General Assembly meets for veto session in September.”

A Moment with Mike -- Retaining Small Businesses

The tradition of “throwing paper in the air” brought an end to the first session of the 96^th General Assembly at 6:00 p.m. Friday evening. It is difficult to describe that mixture of feelings that include relief, fatigue, disappointment, pride, satisfaction and patriotism as you ponder the reality of the many bills, initiatives and ideas that have either passed through the process or failed, but will have an effect on the citizens of Missouri for years to come. The cumbersome process is frustrating at times but also adds some protection from ideas and regulations that may seem progressive and necessary by some and redundant or harmful to others.

A bill only becomes law after it has gone through a number of steps in both the House and the Senate. Getting agreement throughout the process without having things added to the bill that are undesirable is difficult. These steps guarantee that anything that passes and is sent to the Governor for one more step has been vetted appropriately. That does not mean that we all agree but each Representative or Senator tries to represent the constituents in their part of the state and hopefully most things passed represent the over-all good for the state.

We started session with a pledge to live within our means, keep taxes low and balance the state budget. I believe we have accomplished these priorities and have passed measures that will positively affect Missourians in all walks of life. One top priority was to create an atmosphere to attract and retain small business and we successfully passed legislation that will reduce regulations and cut down on frivolous lawsuits for small businesses and family farms.

We continued to represent Missouri taxpayers by requiring drug tests for welfare recipients, if they are suspected of abusing drugs, so we know our tax dollars are used to provide a hand up and not a hand out. We went after the worst of the worst by toughening penalties on those who attempt to facilitate human trafficking and we took a strong stand for the unborn and defined what a viable life in Missouri actually is. We passed a reasonable fix to Prop B that will improve the safety and enforceability of animals and bad actors, but also protect our agriculture industry and we made several changes in the “right to carry” laws including the extension of these rights to 21 year olds which makes us consistent with the other states around us.

Two pieces of legislation approved by the General Assembly will appear on the November 2012 ballot for voter approval. One will be to protect and clarify the rights of Missourians to pray in public places and the other will determine the need for a photo ID to vote.

I was pleased that we were able to extend the MO Rx program that benefits over 200,000 senior citizens and we funded the Area Agencies on Aging to enable them to continue the “Meals on Wheels” program that provides a service to those who cannot provide well for themselves.

One of the more difficult initiatives that took a lot of time and consideration was the passing of a redistricting map that would establish the boundaries for the 8 congressional districts in our state. This was completed with a historical override of the Governor’s veto and this will be in law for at least the next ten years.

These are a few of the initiatives that were passed this session and I will give a more detailed overview of some of these in the coming weeks. Right now I am looking forward to staying in the district and seeing all of you at the parades, carnivals, dinners and other events throughout the area.

If you have questions, you may reach me at my Capitol number 573-751-9465, at the local district number, 660-582-4014, by email at mike.thomson@house.mo.gov or by mail at Room 401B State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101

A Moment with Mike for February 23rd, 2011

The work that we do at the Capitol runs in cycles and as we quickly approach that mid-point of this session, the majority of time is spent in the committee process. There is some floor action that has already seen passage of some priority items, however, as one that sits on four House committees and one joint committee, most of my time is filled with hearings that prepare legislation to come to the House floor or give us direction as we begin the process of developing a budget that needs to be completed in the next few weeks.

One bill passed out of committee this week would require all driving tests in Missouri to be given only in English. Presently, our state offers driver’s license tests in 11 languages besides English and allows people taking the test to have a translator. The bill approved by the House Transportation Committee would require anyone seeking a driver’s license to take the test in English, either in written form or by having someone read it aloud. While we welcome people from all parts of the world and from varying cultures, it is important to establish that the language we use here in Missouri is English. Our road and highway signs are written in English and highway patrolmen and police officers who make traffic stops are going to communicate in English as well. The bottom line is that if you are going to safely operate a motor vehicle in Missouri, you need to understand English.

Two other bills given committee approval this week would require voters to show a photo ID at the polls and allow them to cast ballots before Election Day. The House Elections Committee approved a constitutional amendment to implement both changes. The committee also passed a bill that would enact the early voting period and photo ID requirement. If passed by both chambers, the constitutional amendment would go before a vote of the people.

We need to make the voting process more accessible and a “no excuse” early voting period would provide an opportunity to vote to many Missourians who may otherwise not cast a ballot. At the same time, we must protect the integrity of the electoral process. We are required to show a photo ID for many things that we do on a regular basis. Why shouldn’t we also provide photographic proof of our identity before we vote? While some have argued that not every Missourian has a photo ID, the bill addresses that issue by requiring the state to provide a form of personal identification at no cost. Requiring photo identification is the simplest way to prevent voter fraud without making the voting process inconvenient for Missouri voters.

Also this week, the House Health Care Policy Committee approved a piece of pro-life legislation that would ban abortions after the 20^th week of pregnancy. The bill provides for exceptions that are medically necessary.

Along with many other bills, these will make their way to the House floor for discussion in the next few weeks. As bills work their way through committee we will soon find that the majority of our time will be spent debating the many issues on the House floor and committee time will be less and less.

If you have questions, you may reach me at my Capitol number 573-751-9465, at the local district number, 660-582-4014, by email at mike.thomson@house.mo.gov or by mail at Room 401B State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101

Senate approves legislation to require photo ID for voters

Missourians would be required to present a state-issued photo ID to vote under a bill passed by the House Elections Committee and Senate this week.

In 2006, the Missouri Supreme Court declared a similar law requiring photo IDs to vote unconstitutional. This time, Republicans in both the House and Senate are proposing putting an amendment about photo identification in the state constitution.

The House Elections Committee approved the bill 7-3 along party lines after hearing nearly two hours of testimony from opponents on Tuesday (Feb. 15).

The Senate approved and sent to the House legislation to implement a photo ID. The underlying constitutional amendment was given first-round approval by the Senate, but awaits a formal vote to send it to the House. To take effect, a constitutional amendment requires statewide voter approval.

Sen. Bill Stouffer, R-Napton, who sponsored the proposal in the Senate, said that photo IDs are already a standard in society.

"It just brings about integrity of our voting," Stouffer said. "We're not trying to suppress any votes; we're not trying to create any problems."

Rep. Stanley Cox, R-Sedalia, agreed with Stouffer, saying it is not unreasonable to ask Missourians to have a photo ID, which he said will help prevent voter fraud.

"The idea that someone might be able to manipulate the system, either through identification or otherwise, is a reason that causes people not to want to participate," Cox said.

Denise Lieberman, an attorney for the voter rights advocacy group Advancement Project, said the bill would create unnecessary obstacles for Missouri voters and prevent some eligible voters from casting a ballot.

"Missouri already requires voters to show ID," Lieberman said. "Missouri already has one of the stricter voter ID laws in the country. What we are talking about is actually limiting the acceptable forms of ID to a very specific, state-issued ID."

Sen. Robin Wright-Jones, D-St. Louis City, also opposes the legislation although she said she anticipates the bill will pass.

"There's no point in us putting this burden back on our citizens," said Wright-Jones. "We wound up in court before, and we have not resolved that."

Five Initiative Petitions Approved for Circulation for 2012 Ballot

Secretary of State Robin Carnahan today announced that one initiative petition relating to early voting, two initiative petitions relating to early voting and election procedures, and two initiative petitions relating to the Missouri House of Representatives met state standards for circulation.

The ballot title for the petition relating to early voting reads:

Shall Missouri law be amended to expand options for voters by allowing them to cast ballots in person prior to federal general elections without the current absentee ballot excuse requirement?

It is estimated state government entities would reimburse election authorities for incurred costs of at least $974,016 in fiscal year 2015 (one-time costs of $676,800 and on-going costs for each federal election of $297,216). Those costs may be higher depending on the compensation, staffing and planning decisions of affected election authorities.

The ballot titles for both petitions relating to early voting and election procedures read:

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to allow early voting prior to federal general elections and include certain procedures relating to voter identification affidavits, voting address updates, and provisional ballots?

It is estimated state government entities would incur unknown potential costs and local governments would incur costs of at least $1,256,256 (one-time costs of $676,800 and on-going costs for each federal election of $579,456). Those costs may fluctuate depending on the compensation, staffing and planning decisions of election authorities.

The petition related to early voting, which would amend Chapter 115 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, and the petitions relating to early voting and election procedures, which would amend Article VIII of the Missouri Constitution, were submitted by Mr. Matt Cologna, 2923 S. Chantilly Lane, Springfield, MO 65804, 573-424-7382.

The ballot titles for both petitions relating to the Missouri House of Representatives read:

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to reduce the number of members and districts of the Missouri House of Representatives from 163 to 103 beginning with the 2023 General Assembly?

Annual estimated savings to state government would be at least $4.7 million. No fiscal impact is expected for local governments.

The petitions relating to the Missouri House of Representatives, which would amend Article III of the Missouri Constitution, were submitted by Mr. Russell C. Purvis, 10104 N. Helena Ave., Kansas City, Mo., 64154, 816-769-4559.

Before any constitutional changes can be brought before Missouri voters in the November 2012 election, signatures must be obtained from registered voters equal to eight (8) percent of the total votes cast in the 2008 governor's election from six of the state's nine congressional districts. For statutory changes, signatures must be obtained from registered voters equal to five (5) percent of the total votes cast in the 2008 governor's election from six of the state's nine congressional districts.

Signatures on behalf of all initiative petitions for the 2012 ballot are due to the Secretary of State’s office by no later than 5 p.m. on May 6, 2012.

Before circulating petitions, state law requires that groups must first have the form of their petition approved by the Secretary of State and Attorney General. The Secretary of State then prepares a summary statement of no more than 100 words and the State Auditor prepares a fiscal impact statement, both of which are subject to the approval of the Attorney General. When both statements are approved, they become the official ballot title.

Various Voter ID Bills Proposed in Legislature

Various voter ID bills are being proposed in the Missouri legislature that would require prospective voters to provide a government-issued photo ID before voting in an election. Five years ago, such a measure was ruled unconstitutional by the Missouri Supreme Court. Now, legislators are seeking to work around the ban.

One such measure, SJR 9, would bypass the Missouri Supreme Court by establishing a new Constitutional Amendment by voter referendum. If passed by the voters in the November, 2012 election, prospective voters would have to prove their citizenship with proper identification. Courts have frowned on such measures in the past, viewing them as amounting to a poll tax given the expenses required for getting a Missouri Driver's License.

Other measures in the House would tie it in with an early voting bill. HB 14 and HB 329, in the Missouri House, would require the government to provide a free state ID for low-income citizens as well as allow for early voting. This is an attempt to pass court scrutiny by eliminating the expense involved with getting a driver's license. Voters would still have to prove citizenship, residence, lawful identity, and name change by presenting relevant documents such as birth certificates. However, in 2006, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities did a study which showed that as many as 3 to 5 million US citizens do not have birth certificates. Most counties and health departments charge for sending birth certificate copies to people.

Missouri Senate Committee discusses voter photo ID requirement

A law declared unconstitutional in 2006 reappeared in the state Capitol Monday (Jan. 24) as a Senate committee heard arguments about requiring government-issued photo identification at the voting booth.

Five years ago, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled a similar law unconstitutional because it "represents a substantial and heavy burden on Missourians' free exercise of their fundamental right to vote."

Sen. Bill Stouffer, R-Napton, one of the bill's sponsors, justified the renewal of the legislation with support from a 2008 U.S. Supreme Court decision about a case in Indiana. Stouffer said the Indiana statute was ruled to be "...amply justified by the valid interest and protecting the integrity and reliability of the election process."