By Mark Slavit
Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at 5:02 p.m.
Read more: Local, Politics, State
COLUMBIA -- Secretary of State Robin Carnahan has teamed up with Boone County Clerk Wendy Noren to try and stop a bill requiring government-issued photo identification for Missouri voters.
Carnahan and Noren say the House bill would make it more difficult for the disabled, poor and students to cast ballots.
The Secretary of State’s office has identified nearly 230,000 Missouri registered voters who currently do not have government-issued identification.
Noren said, “This about a narrowly defined set of identification that will make it impossible for some people, some legally qualified voters, some of who have been voting for 20 or 30 years, will make it impossible for them to vote on Election Day.”
Noren and Carnahan insist the issue is not partisan. They say it’s a myth that most college students, low-income individuals and disabled people tend to vote democratically.
Carnahan said, “This is not an issue that’s about partisanship or politics on either side. It’s an issue that’s about what kind of eligibility requirements there are on people to vote.”
The proposal also allows for some early voting and revises the absentee voting process. The measure passed on a straight party-line vote, with democrats against it and republicans voting for it. Republicans say the measure will eliminate voter fraud, not disenfranchise voters.
If the government-issued photo identification bill clears the legislature it will go to a public vote in 2010.
