Senate Committees heard testimonies against Voter I.D. bill
From Missouri Digital News: https://mdn.org
MDN Menu

MDN Home

Journalist's Creed

Print

MDN Help

MDN.ORG: Missouri Digital News
MDN Menu

MDN Home

Journalist's Creed

Print

MDN Help

MDN.ORG Mo. Digital News Missouri Digital News MDN.ORG: Mo. Digital News MDN.ORG: Missouri Digital News
Lobbyist Money Help  

Senate Committees heard testimonies against Voter I.D. bill

Date: April 17, 2012
By: Ashley Hartman
State Capitol Bureau
Links: HCR53

Intro: 
Missouri Secretary of State opposes the voter I.D. resolution changing the summary language.
RunTime:  0:49
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: The bill sponsor Shane Schoeller says the bill's resolution will change the language within the legislation and summarize voter I.D. protection on the ballot. 

He says the measure will reverse the removal of the language the Cole county circuit court had rejected. 

Actuality:  SCHOELL1.WAV
Run Time:  00:08
Description: "When voters know their vote really counts and they don't believe there's any fraud associated with that election, they're more likely to want to show up and cast that ballot."

Director of Policy and Governmental Affairs Ron Berry spoke out on behalf of the Secretary of State's office opposing the change in the language. 

He argued that if a resolution has no force in effect then it is just vice and is the Secretary's duty to certify the ballot summary. 

The bill sponsor Shane Schoeller says opponents of the bill are clearly not defending the will of the people.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Ashley Hartman. 


Intro: 
A measure changing the photo I.D. to vote language was debated during a public hearing Tuesday morning.
RunTime:  0:49
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Representative Shane Schoeller says the purpose of the measure is to correct language that the Cole county circuit court threw out.  

He says the new resolution will make sure the ballot summary on voter I.D. protection is within the law. 

Actuality:  SCHOELL2.WAV
Run Time:  00:11
Description: "A utilities statement can be easily tampered with and if they use that, your identity is stolen, your vote is stolen, and that's what we want to stop and that's what we know photo I.D. can do."

Legislative Consultant Jeremy LeFaver, who spoke on behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union, opposes the bill because he says there would not be an opportunity to amend a joint resolution from previous legislative years. 

The bill sponsor says that based on polls, about seventy percent of the people want to form a photo identification to protect their vote. 

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Ashley Hartman.