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Voter ID measure moves ahead in Missouri
By JASON NOBLEThe Star’s Jefferson City correspondent
JEFFERSON CITY | Missouri lawmakers gave preliminary approval to voter ID legislation on Wednesday, reopening a deeply partisan issue with scant time remaining in the session.
The legislation would change the state Constitution to allow lawmakers to require that voters show government-issued identification before voting.
To go into effect, the proposed amendment must win another vote in the House, pass the Senate and be approved by voters in November.
The introduction of the proposed amendment comes just a week after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Indiana’s right to require voters to show ID. Missouri lawmakers passed similar legislation in 2006, but it was struck down by the state Supreme Court that same year.
The issue has long been marked by partisanship. Republicans argue identification is necessary to combat voter fraud, while Democrats say such efforts are meant to disenfranchise poor voters who tend to vote Democratic.
“We’re in a democracy. We allow people to vote. That’s the greatest part of our country,” said House Democratic leader Paul LeVota of Independence during floor debate. “The fact that the majority party wants to limit the right to vote is outrageous.”
Rep. Stanley Cox, the measure’s sponsor, argued just the opposite.
“It’s not a limitation of the right to vote, and it’s not taking away anyone’s rights,” the Sedalia Republican said. “It’s protecting our most fundamental right — the right to vote.”
Democrats attempted to introduce a series of amendments to weaken the measure’s provisions. All but one were ruled out of order by the Republican majority.
The 89-67 vote Wednesday fell strictly along party lines.
If lawmakers are serious about passing the legislation this year, they’ll have to hurry.
The session adjourns May 16, leaving at most seven legislative work days to move the proposed amendment through the process.