Lawsuit filed against Missouri voter ID initiative

ST. LOUIS, MO (ST. LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO) - A voter ID ballot initiative certified for the November 2012 ballot has sparked a lawsuit from several civil rights groups.

The measure passed the Missouri General Assembly this session and is scheduled to go before voters in November 2012.

It would ask voters to amend the state Constitution and allow lawmakers to enact early voting laws and photo ID requirements.

Denise Lieberman with the Advancement Project, one of the groups bringing the suit, says the summary language does not make that clear.

"While the legislature claims that this measure stands to protect voters, it does just the opposite, it in fact weakens the constitutional protection that’s afforded to the right to vote that’s in our constitution and never advises the voter of that," Lieberman says.

But Senator Bill Stouffer who sponsored the legislation, disagrees.

"It allows voters to decide whether the Missouri legislature can set the guidelines for early voting and photo ID in order to vote. And it’s simple and straightforward in my mind," Stouffer said.

Stouffer, a Republican, says photo IDs are required in many situations like getting on a plane or reserving a hotel room.

The Advancement Project argues it will disenfranchise many voters.

Maria Altman, St. Louis Public Radio

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Nixon vetoes voter ID bill

Governor Jay Nixon vetoed a bill on Friday that would have required voters present photo identification in order to vote.

The governor objected to the bill because he feels that is would disenfranchise the elderly and disabled because they are less likely to have a driver’s license or government-issued photo ID.

Nixon also said that he believes that the bill would discourage and impede citizens from voting, even though they may have been voting for decades.

Jacob McCleland, KRCU

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Nixon noncommittal on voter ID

ST. LOUIS, MO (ST. LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO) - Governor Jay Nixon says he hasn't yet decided what he'll do with legislation that would put a voter I-D requirement on the ballot in November 2012.

During his 2008 campaign, Nixon called the requirement "onerous." But he sidestepped a question at a bill signing in St. Louis Friday about whether he'd veto the new measure, saying he had not fully reviewed the bill.

"I said what I said. Obviously we're always trying to work to make voting as easy and efficient for people as possible. It's an important part of democracy, we like to have people to be able to get to the polls and vote in an organized and appropriate way," Nixon said.

A Missouri judge in 2006 struck down a similar measure as unconstitutional. The new version means a photo ID requirement would not take effect without voter approval.

Rachel Lippmann, St. Louis Public Radio

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Mo. House passes photo ID bill

JEFFERSON CITY, MO (MISSOURI DIGITAL NEWS) - The Missouri House passed a bill that would impose stricter voter registration requirements.

The bill would require voters to show a government-issued photo ID when they show up at the polls.

Opponents say the bill would hurt voter turnout. They say groups such as the elderly, disabled, and immigrants will have trouble obtaining government ID's.

St. Louis City Representative Karla May says it will prevent American citizens from voting.

"We have immigrants that live in our state, that are here legally, that are tax paying citizens," she said. "They all don't have all of this proper identification that you are putting in this bill."

Those in favor of the bill say it will cut down on voter fraud.

The bill passed by 99-52 vote.

It needs to be approved by the Senate once more before it goes on to the governor.

Meghann McGinnis, Missouri Digital News

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Mo. House approves Voter ID bill

JEFFERSON CITY, MO (MISSOURI DIGITAL NEWS) - Missouri's representatives voted and approved the bill that's trying to require Missouri voters to have photo identification when voting.

Representative Stanley Cox sponsors the bill.

Cox says if people try to cheat, they water down others' votes and deny the right to vote.

St. Louis County Representative Stacey Newman spoke against the bill.

She says there's no reason to require Missourians to present photo identification, saying that there has not been "one instance of documented voter fraud in Missouri. Not one instance."

Newman says voter impersonation is similar to the issue of voter fraud.

She says she doesn't know how a cartoon, dead person, or a pet can actually show up to vote because it doesn't happen and it never will.

Kyle Tons, Missouri Digital News

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