Regardless of the 2006 MO Supreme Court ruling that declares requiring photo identification to vote is unconstitutional, this is the 5th year that Voter Photo ID legislation has been filed.
I have committed, now for my 2nd year, to fighting this issue which would disenfranchise over 230,000 current eligible votersfrom utilizing their right to vote. Potential voters that would be affected include the elderly, disabled, college students and those in poverty.
As the House Progressive Caucus chair, I recently invited Denise Lieberman of the MO Voter Protection Project and Burt Newman, an attorney who challenged the2006 law in the MO Supreme Court, to speak and provide information to our entire Democratic Caucus. They also testified against SB3 and corresponding resolutions, SJR2 and SJR9 in the Photo ID hearing in the Senate.
This is a partyline issue which continues to surface and is being fast tracked in several state legislatures around the country. Arguments in support focus on voter inpersonation fraud which has never been documented or proven in Missouri.
As this legislation moves, I will keep you updated on our efforts.