A Missouri judge upheld a law on Tuesday that requires voters to present government-issued photo identification in order to vote.
What Is the Ruling?
The ruling, made by Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem on Tuesday, solidifies the 2016 voter-approved constitutional amendment enabling lawmakers to impose such photo ID requirements, despite pushback from voting rights advocates.
The Missouri law offers alternatives for voters without photo ID, allowing them to cast provisional ballots, which are counted if they return with proper identification the same day or if election officials verify their signatures.
In addition, to mitigate accessibility concerns, the state provides free photo ID cards to those who need them.
Missouri joins 36 other states that either request or mandate identification for voters, with at least 21 specifically requiring photo IDs, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
What Do Supporters of the Law Say?
Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, a Republican, praised the decision, asserting that photo ID requirements are integral to election security. "To maintain a secure system for voting, it only stands to reason that a photo ID should be essential," Ashcroft said in a statement.
Supporters of voter ID laws argue that they prevent fraud and bolster public trust in elections.
What Do Critics Say?
Critics, however, contend that these laws disproportionately burden vulnerable groups, including seniors and people with disabilities, by creating hurdles to obtaining valid identification.
Opposition groups—including the Missouri NAACP and the League of Women Voters, along with two individual voters—challenged the law in 2022 filing a lawsuit, alleging it places undue obstacles in the path of voters and increases the likelihood of provisional ballots being rejected.
Despite these claims, Judge Beetem dismissed the lawsuit, emphasizing that none of the plaintiffs experienced specific harm since the law's implementation.
"Their claim that their provisional ballots may be rejected is purely speculative," Beetem wrote. "In addition, the evidence at trial confirms that rejection rates for provisional ballots are low, and the rates specifically for signature-mismatch are exceedingly low."
In his ruling, Beetem argued that the photo ID requirement enhances election integrity, stating it "protects the fundamental right to vote by deterring difficult to detect forms of voter fraud."
The plaintiffs, represented by the Missouri ACLU and the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, plan to appeal the decision.
Marilyn McLeod, president of the Missouri League of Women Voters, criticized the ruling, saying: "The League believes the state should be making it easier, not harder, for Missourians to exercise their fundamental right to vote."
"There's no evidence of voter impersonation in Missouri, so these restrictions don't make our elections any safer or more secure," McLeod added.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
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