By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – A ruling Monday by the U.S. Supreme Court upholding Indiana's voter I.D. law is not expected to revive a similar law struck down by the Missouri Supreme Court in 2006.
The Missouri law required voters to present a photo I.D. as a means of preventing voter fraud.
Democratic Attorney Don Downing, who led the challenge against the law two years ago, says the ruling in Missouri was based on the State Constitution, and that the U.S. high court's ruling was based on the Federal Constitution.
But State Representative Stanley Cox (R, Sedalia) says the federal ruling could make it easier to pass another voter I.D. law.
"One of the arguments that happens on the floor of the House or Senate is people say, 'well, you know, what we're doing here doesn't even meet the requirements of the U.S. Constitution,'" Cox said, but he added that the argument is now nullified.
House Minority Floor Leader Paul LeVota (D, Independence) says the law is unnecessary.
"There's been no evidence of election fraud (in Missouri), of people voting (and) not using their identity...there are issues of registration, but this doesn't deal with any type of election fraud...there is no proof that this would solve any problems whatsoever," LeVota said.
Cox, meanwhile, says it's too late to draft legislation this year, but he plans to do so in 2009.