By Maria Hickey, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – The Missouri Secretary of State and several voters' rights groups say a proposed voter I.D. law would disenfranchise thousands.
The Missouri House Thursday approved the constitutional amendment to allow the change in law. The Republican-sponsored measure now goes to the Senate where it will have to pass by May 16 to get on the ballot.
But Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, a Democrat, says requiring a government-issued I.D. will be a burden for some elderly, disabled, and poor.
"We did an overlay of the state driver's license and non-driver's license records, comparing that to the state voting records, and we found that up to 240,000 Missourians are registered, eligible voters that don't have that required government I.D." Carnahan said.
Carnahan says the state already has common-sense laws that protect against voter fraud by requiring that voters show a utility bill or other proof of residence and identity.
League of Women Voters of St. Louis, Missouri Pro-Vote, and Missourians for Fair Elections also oppose the constitutional amendment.