The Reporter newspaper, Camdenton Missouri

The Reporter covers Miller, Morgan and Camden County in Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks and is published once per week on Wednesdays.

Published July 12, 2017

Voter ID law takes effect

CAMDEN COUNTY – An informational tour through the state by representatives of the Secretary of State’s (SOS) office on the new Voter Identification Law has made a stop in Camden County to explain the details of the photo ID Law.

According to the SOS, the ID Law was adopted by the General Assembly in 2016 but was vetoed by Democrat Governor Jay Nixon.

The veto was overridden but the statute would not become effective unless Missouri voters approved a constitutional amendment authorizing photo identification requirements for elections.

Voters did this in last November’s election where they adopted Constitutional Amendment 6, authorizing photo identification for elections.

The effective date was June 1 of this year.

Those against the Voter ID law claim that many people can’t get an ID or can’t afford one. Missouri’s photo voter ID law also requires the state to assist voters who might not have a photo ID with the process of obtaining one free Missouri non-driver license for the purpose of voting.

“Most Missourians have a Missouri Driver's License or Nondriver License, which is an acceptable photo ID for voting,” the SOS stated.

But even if a person does not have a photo ID, they can still vote with a provisional ballot.

There are several options available to voters.

• Option 1: Provide a Missouri issued Driver or Non-Driver license, U.S. Passport, or Military ID
• Option 2: Provide a secondary form of identification, such as a paycheck or bank statement and sign a statement confirming their identity
• Option 3: If the voter has no form of identification, but is a registered voter, they may cast a provisional ballot

Provisional ballots are a bit complicated.

“There are two ways a provisional ballot will be counted: 1. You come back to your polling place and show a photo ID, OR; 2. Your signature matches the signature on file with the local election authority,” the SOS said.

The Missouri Revised Statutes explains it this way:

“3. An individual who appears at a polling place without identification in the form described in subsection 1 of this section and who is otherwise qualified to vote at that polling place may execute an affidavit averring that the voter is the person listed in the precinct register and that the voter does not possess a form of identification specified in this section and is unable to obtain a current and valid form of personal identification because of:
(1) A physical or mental disability or handicap of the voter, if the voter is otherwise competent to vote under Missouri law; or
(2) A sincerely held religious belief against the forms of personal identification described in subsection 1 of this section; or
(3) The voter being born on or before January 1, 1941.
“Upon executing such affidavit, the individual may cast a provisional ballot. Such provisional ballot shall be counted, provided the election authority verifies the identity of the individual by comparing that individual's signature to the signature on file with the election authority and determines that the individual was eligible to cast a ballot at the polling place where the ballot was cast.”

But all registered voters will still be able to vote whether they have a photo ID or not.

“If you are registered voter, you will be able to vote,” said Camden County Clerk Rowland Todd. “Options 3 does allow you to vote if you follow the guidelines.”

Todd is planning on educating the public on the new photo ID law before the major elections coming up in 2018 but the law is in force for the upcoming August election, Todd said.

Several county offices and many mid-term elections for those elected to Washington D.C. will be on the ballots in 2018.

For more information visit showItToVote.com

Anyone with questions concerning the new law can contact the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office toll-free at 866-868-3245 or email them at showit2vote@sos.mo.gov