HCS HJR 48 -- VOTER IDENTIFICATION

SPONSOR:  Nolte (Cox)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
Immigration by a vote of 8 to 2.

Upon voter approval, this proposed constitutional amendment
authorizes the General Assembly to require any person seeking to
vote in a public election to provide election officials a form of
identification that may be prescribed by law, including a
government-issued photo identification, in order to show that he
or she is a United States citizen lawfully residing in this
state.  The State of Missouri will provide at no cost at least
one form of the identification required to vote to any otherwise
qualified citizen without proper identification who desires to
vote.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2009, FY 2010, and
FY 2011.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill will prevent voter
fraud, and it is not necessary that fraud occur first before the
state takes measures to prevent it.  The integrity of the
electoral process is very important.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Cox; Harvey
Tettlebaum; Missouri Eagle Forum; Missourians Against Illegal
Immigration; and David Keller.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that Missouri's current
voter laws are among the strictest in the nation and work well.
There is no evidence of voter fraud.  Barriers to voting should
be allowed only for compelling reasons, and potentially
preventing unproven voter fraud is not such a reason.  Voting is
a fundamental right.  Democracy works best when the most citizens
can participate.  Preventing legitimate American citizens from
voting in effort to stop the extreme few who may commit fraud is
too high a cost to pay.

Testifying against the bill were Office of the Secretary of
State; Service Employees International Union, Missouri/Kansas
State Council; American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern
Missouri; and The Whole Person Incorporated.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill say the committee needs to
be aware that there is a difference between a wall and a filter,
and this measure is a filter.  The committee should also consider
the unintended consequences of passing this resolution.

Testifying on the bill was Paraquad, Incorporated.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated October 15, 2008 at 3:12 pm