Photo ID Bill passes through Missouri House Elections committee.
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Photo ID Bill passes through Missouri House Elections committee.

Date: February 15, 2011
By: Helena Kooi
State Capitol Bureau

 
Intro: 
Missouri's Senate approved requirements that voters must carry a photo ID the same day a House committee passed a similar plan.
RunTime:  0:43
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: The House Elections committee passed the bill after hearing nearly two hours of testimony from opponents.

The vote fell along party lines with seven republicans voting for and three democrats voting against the bill.

Attorney for the voter rights advocacy group Advancement Project Denise Lieberman says the bill creates unnecessary barriers for Missouri voters.

Actuality:  DENISE2.WAV
Run Time:  00:13
Description: "Missouri already requires voters to show ID. Missouri already has one of the stricter voter ID laws in the country. What we are talking about is actually limiting the acceptable forms of ID to a very specific state issued ID."

Lieberman says the bill would prevent eligible voters from casting a ballot. Supporters say it will prevent voter fraud.

From the state Capitol, I'm Helena Kooi.

Intro: 
The Missouri Senate and a House committee approved a bill on the same day that requires voters to present state issued IDs at the polls.
RunTime:  0:35
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: The House Elections committee vote went along party lines.

Republican Representative Stanley Cox says it is not unreasonable to ask Missourians to have a photo ID.

He says stricter ID laws will prevent voter fraud.

Actuality:  COX5.WAV
Run Time:  00:09
Description: "The idea that someone might be able to manipulate the system either through identification or otherwise is a reason that causes people not to want to participate."

Cox says the state would provide free IDs to citizens who can't afford them.

Opponents of the legislation say the change is unnecessary because voter fraud is not an issue in Missouri.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Helena Kooi.