Missouri Governor Vetoes Photo ID Voting Requirement

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed legislation Thursday that would have required voters to show photo identification at the polls, prompting a lawmaker behind the effort to say he is confident the Republican-led Legislature will overturn the Democrat's action.

In a letter explaining his veto, which was expected, Nixon said the measure would make it harder to vote, particularly for older voters, people with disabilities and minority voters, and isn't needed. The governor also said such policies are sometimes considered to be "motivated by an attempt to suppress turnout among certain classes of voters."

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Bill sponsor Rep. Justin Alferman, a Hermann Republican, said he'll "absolutely" ask his colleagues to override Nixon's veto during a short September session. He and Sen. Will Kraus, a Lee's Summit Republican who ushered the bill through the Senate and is running for secretary of state, both said they're confident lawmakers will be able to do so. The measure passed both the House and Senate with enough support to override Nixon if lawmakers stick to their original votes.

But the requirements wouldn't take effect unless voters approve a proposed constitutional amendment; that approval is needed because the Missouri Supreme Court previously struck down similar requirements as unconstitutional. If voters OK the measure, the requirement would take effect for elections after June 2017.

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Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/missouri-governor-vetoes-photo-id-voting-requirement-40413634

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By SUMMER BALLENTINE, ASSOCIATED PRESS JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Jul 7, 2016, 7:48 PM ET

[Laffy Kat]

1. Nixon is a Democrat, of course.

Bill is sponsored by a repug., also, of course.

[scscholar]

2. Good. Considering it took me three years of fighting...

to get a WA drivers license after moving back to Seattle, this is good. The rules on getting a DL are much to onerous.

[SunSeeker]

3. K & R

[CBHagman]

4. Good for the veto, but we've got to make sure voter ID laws are political Kryptonite...

For all the talk of reverence for the Constitution, there are multiple political forces arrayed against various rights within it, and among the most besieged is the right to vote. Obviously there's not yet any serious political consequence for all these attempts to disenfranchise citizens, so we've got our work cut out for us. Like gerrymandering, unlimited political spending, and media manipulation, it's yet another in a series of blows against democracy.

[TheDebbieDee]

5. Way to go, Jay!

Good job...

[SheriffBob]

6. yay

I love it.

[L. Coyote]

7. kicking