A judge has dismissed the that requires voters to show a government-issued ID at the polls.
Cole County Judge Jon Beetem's order on Wednesday means that voters without a photo ID will have to file a provisional ballot in the November election. The provisional ballot will only be counted if the voter returns later that day with a photo ID or if election officials verify their signatures.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of two women, but Beetem wrote that neither 鈥渉as alleged a specific, concrete, non-speculative injury or legally protectable interest in challenging the photo ID requirement.鈥�
Officials with the groups that challenged the voter ID law on behalf of the women called the ruling 鈥減rocedural" and said it doesn't address the merits of their argument. They said the case will end up before the Missouri Supreme Court, which they said has twice previously struck down less-restrictive requirements.
鈥淢issouri鈥檚 Constitution provides all Missourians with the fundamental right to vote,鈥� a statement from the ACLU of Missouri and the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition said. 鈥淰oter ID restrictions disenfranchise Missourians, particularly people of color, people with disabilities, rural Missourians, voters with limited income, seniors and students.鈥�
Before now, voters without a government-issued ID could use other means to prove their identities, such as utility bills.
鈥淚 applaud and agree with the court鈥檚 decision to dismiss this lawsuit since not even the plaintiffs could find a single individual who would be prevented from voting,鈥� Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft said in a news release. 鈥淢issouri elections will continue to be safe, secure, and accurate as we prepare for November.鈥�
Among other things, Missouri voters on Nov. 8 will and will .
Democrats across the nation have sought to expand voter access, while many Republicans have pursued new voting restrictions following that the 2020 election was stolen from him.
Seventeen states besides Missouri had voter photo identification laws in effect as of this spring, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, and 19 states had identification laws that accepted proof other than photos.
In a , Missouri Solicitor General John Sauer said the concern that some voters won鈥檛 be able to obtain proper identification in order to cast regular ballots amounts to 鈥渟peculation at its finest.鈥�
ACLU attorney Tony Rothert said the photo ID requirement puts unconstitutional burdens on the right to vote and serves no purpose. 鈥淭here鈥檚 still no evidence of voter-impersonation fraud at the polls,鈥� Rothert said.
Republican Missouri lawmakers and Republican Gov. Mike Parson signed it into law in June.
Jim Salter, The Associated Press
