Missouri Voter Photo ID ruled unconstitutional! Great news!

[RayOfHope]

An email from MDP:

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Missouri Supreme Court on Monday struck down a new law requiring voters to show a photo ID at the polls, upholding a lower judge's decision.

A lower judge ruled last month that the ID requirement was an unconstitutional infringement on the fundamental right to vote. The Supreme Court agreed in a 6-1 unsigned opinion.

The law required voters to present a photo identification card issued by Missouri or the federal government to cast a ballot starting with the November election.

The court found the requirement violated several provisions in the state constitution. The court said requiring otherwise legitimate voters to obtain an appropriate ID imposed too big a burden on their voting rights.

The law would have allowed those lacking such an ID this fall to cast a provisional ballot upon meeting certain conditions. In future elections, only the elderly, disabled and those with religious objections to carrying a photo ID could vote without one, and only by provisional ballot.

Provisional ballots are set apart from regular ballots, and election authorities later determine whether they should count by, among other things, checking whether their signatures match those on file and if they're in the right polling place.

Supporters of the ID requirement said it was necessary to prevent voter fraud and increase confidence in the election process. Opponents argued people impersonating others when voting is rare, and that the ID requirement would especially harm the poor, elderly and disabled who may be less likely to have a driver's license.
Mindy Mazur

[usregimechange]

1. Roy Temple called it the "Jim Talent Protection Act."

:bounce:

[usregimechange]

2. Quote:

"The trial court properly held that SB 1014's photo ID requirement violates the equal protection clause of article I, section 2 of the state constitution. It also properly held that the photo ID requirement violates the right to vote as guaranteed by article I, section 25 of the state constitution, which provides more expansive and concrete protection to the right to vote than the federal constitution. In reaching these conclusions, this Court applies strict scrutiny analysis, in which any limitation on a fundamental right must serve compelling state interests and must be narrowly tailored to meet those interests. SB 1014's photo ID requirement fails to pass constitutional scrutiny because it creates a heavy burden on the fundamental right to vote and is not narrowly tailored to meet a compelling state interest." ~Supreme Court of Missouri (Opinion Summary).

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. It was for my mom

She died yesterday morning. Her last battle was her attempt to register to vote in MO. Damn bastards really pissed her off when they passed this legislation.

This is for you, Mom. :hug: :cry:

[RayOfHope]

4. I'm so sorry, proud

I've been watching your threads to see how that was going.

I'm so sorry.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Thanks

I don't think I will ever forget the agony these selfish pricks put my mom through. Hate isn't a strong enough word.

[usregimechange]

6. Sorry for your loss. Now I am going to work even harder to get

these slimy fruitcakes out office.