By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – A State House committee has passed a resolution that would require Missouri voters to present photo identification and make other changes to voting laws.
The sponsor, State Representative Stanley Cox (R, Sedalia), says in addition to requiring photo I.D.'s, the resolution would make it easy for those who don't have one to get one.
"It provides you, if you can't afford it, a photo I.D., the non-driver's license (I.D.), for people who don't have one free of charge," Cox said.
Cox also says there would be exemptions for some voters, including the elderly.
Secretary of State Robin Carnahan opposes the resolution.
She says it would disenfranchise more than 200,000 voters in Missouri.
"And it goes even further by narrowing the acceptable absentee voting rules, which would have a big impact on disabled folks who are now on a permanent absentee list, and (it) also would restrict military voters from having the certainty of getting their ballots back by Election Day," Carnahan said.
But Cox insists that current absentee law would be included into the proposed photo I-D constitutional amendment.
If it passes the General Assembly, it would be placed on the November 2010 ballot.