Today’s Links
Articles
Kansas City Star – Missouri Gov. Parson signs sweeping new law requiring voters to show photo ID at polls
St. Louis Public Radio – Huge bill adds extra steps for voters and those who run Missouri elections
Text of Missouri’s now signed HB 1878
Groups Taking Action
Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, League of Women Voters Missouri, MALDEF, Missouri Protection & Advocacy Services
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
Earlier this week we mentioned that the Missouri legislature had passed an omnibus–and ominous– voting and election bill, and that pro-voter groups and election officials were not happy with the additional barriers to voting and burdens to election workers. That bill was signed Wednesday by Republican Governor Mike Parson.
Sponsors of the bill hailed the provision to implement a voter ID requirement, common among many states, but they limited the allowable ID to only state or federal IDs, not other commonly-accepted options such as student IDs and other institutional documents. The State of Missouri charges for non-driver IDs, a barrier for low-income voters.
Changes to current law will allow no-excuse absentee ballot voting for a two week period prior to the election, but only in person, not by mail. Disabled and elderly voters would be forced to come into election offices to vote during this period.
St. Louis Public Radio reports that the bill also bans third-party assistance with voter registration, restricting groups like the League of Women Voters and other pro-voter groups from helping voters register. Nor can groups facilitate absentee voting.
Election officials voiced concern over the potential disruption of election-day auditing, and the banning of private grants to offset the costs of elections, which, like most of these new restrictions, were based on false claims of widespread election fraud.
Links to more information on this restrictive Missouri bill and groups taking action are at our website, AmericanDemocracyMinute.org
Granny D said, “Democracy is not something we have, it’s something we DO.” For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.