FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: mofairelections@gmail.com

Proposed Photo ID Legislation Failed
Constitutional Change to Restrict Voting Rights Faced
Groundswell of Opposition from Across the State

JEFFERSON CITY, MO – In a victory for all voters, Missouri lawmakers ended this year’s legislative session without a final vote on legislation that could have prevented up to 240,000 Missourians from voting. The proposed change would have altered Missouri’s constitution, allowing for strict citizenship and government-issued photo ID requirements that would make Missouri one of the toughest states in the country for eligible, law-abiding citizens to register to vote or cast a ballot.

“I am relieved that I will be able to vote this fall,” said Lillie Lewis, a St. Louis city resident, “I’ve been voting in every election since I can remember, but if I needed my birth certificate, that would be the end of that. I hope this is the last we hear of this nonsense.” Lillie Lewis was born in Mississippi, but the state sent her a letter stating they have no record of her birth.

Birdell Owen, a Missouri resident who was displaced by hurricane Katrina, also voiced her relief. “I should be able to participate in my democracy,” she said, “even if Louisiana can’t get me a copy of my birth certificate. I’m glad Missouri politicians had the sense to protect my right to vote.”

As the bill began to move, a broad coalition of groups and voters across the state worked to educate citizens and legislators about the negative impact of such policy changes on real voters. Missourians for Fair Elections reports over 4,200 calls were made to lawmakers in the past two weeks urging them to not consider this legislation. Catholic organizations, such as the Franciscan Sisters of Saint Mary, and the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas issued statements voicing deep concerns with the legislation. The AARP, League of Women Voters, labor organizations, disability advocates, community organizations and progressive leaders worked around the clock for the past two weeks to make sure the concerns of Missouri voters were heard.

In 2006, despite serious opposition from voting rights experts, election officials and voters, the Missouri legislature passed an overly-restrictive photo ID measure that was later found unconstitutional by the Missouri Supreme Court because it amounted to a poll tax and Missouri’s current identification requirements are sufficient. This year’s proposed legislation would have altered the constitution in an attempt to allow restrictive voting laws to pass constitutional muster. Such restrictive laws include government-issued photo ID and proof of citizenship requirements to register to vote and to vote.

Kathleen Weinschenk, of Columbia, Missouri, has been fighting to protect her right to vote, and that of others, since 2006. She has cerebral palsy, and doesn’t drive because of her disability. Without a birth certificate from Arkansas, she cannot get a Missouri photo ID. Kathleen is elated that the constitution will not be changed to prohibit her from voting. “Today, freedom rings,” she said.

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Secretary Robin Caranahan Issues Response

Carnahan Statement on Legislature Not Passing Restrictive Voter Photo ID Legislative Proposal


Jefferson City, MO – Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan released the following statement on the legislative session ending without the passage of a restrictive proposal requiring voters to present a government-issued photo ID at the polls:

“This proposal not passing is a victory for voter’s rights. This debate has not been about having Missouri voters identify themselves at the polls. In Missouri, we already have common sense identification requirements in place. This debate has been about ensuring fair elections, and elections can not be fair if eligible voters are not allowed to make their voice heard on Election Day.

These past two weeks we heard from Missouri voters across the state that feared they would lose their right to vote because they don’t have a government-issued photo ID or a birth certificate, and I am glad the legislature didn’t put their right to vote at risk. The hard work of citizens and groups around this state who opposed this proposal played a key role in making sure this legislation was not passed.”

The Missouri Supreme Court stuck down a 2006 Voter Photo ID law in October of that year, citing that it placed too much of a burden on eligible Missourian’s constitutional right to vote.

2008 Legislative Session is CLOSED

HJR48 was never called for a final vote!

20 minutes left in the 2008 session

As Charles Jaco said on Channel 2 last night, 6pm is the "drop dead hour." What's done is done. What hasn't been called to the floor is dead.

For those of you sitting on the edge of your seats,
live Senate debate can be streamed here:

mms://chamber.senate.mo.gov/Senate%20Chamber
The link should open in Windows Media Player or other audio program.

Secretary Robin Caranahan and Missouri Voters Discuss Costly Effects of Possible Photo ID Law

2:30pm in Kansas City, MO:

Secretary of State Robin Carnahan joined a group of Missouri voters today at the AARP Office in Kansas City, Mo., to discuss the possible disenfranchisement of up to 240,000 Missourians if a proposed government Photo ID requirement for voting is rushed through the Missouri legislature later today. Some of those voters present lacked the necessary government issued Photo ID that would be required to vote.

“As Missouri's chief elections official, it's my job to ensure fair elections, and elections cannot be fair if eligible voters are not allowed to vote,” said Carnahan. “Many of the registered voters who do not have the type of government ID required also do not have copies of the documents needed to obtain a government ID in the first place – like a birth certificate. We know that getting copies of these can be costly, time consuming and sometimes impossible.”

Secretary Carnahan was joined by voters like Thomas Sweeny who is a World War II veteran. Mr. Sweeney, who was born in the mid-1920s, has not driven for the past several years and does not have a government issued photo ID. If this proposal were to become law, Mr. Sweeney would not be allowed to vote without a government issued photo ID.

In addition, Sister Corita Bussanmask of Operation Breakthrough in Kansas City was also there to express concerns because some of her fellow sisters and the mothers she works with could be affected. Reverend Rayfield Burns with Metropolitan Missionary Baptist and Reverend Spencer Barrett with Bethel AME also attended to express concerns with the proposal.

“It would be unacceptable for a voter to be denied the right to vote in America merely because an inefficient government bureaucracy can not provide a copy of a birth certificate to one of its citizens,” added Carnahan. “I urge the legislature to reject any proposal that could put the voting rights of up to 240,000 Missourians at risk.”

Sisters of Mercy Urge Missouri Lawmakers to Reject Proposed Photo ID Law

Members of the Missouri Catholic community have expressed grave
concerns that citizens in the state, including religious sisters, will be unjustly denied their right to vote if this misguided bill passes. The Sisters of Mercy released a public statement today:

“We are deeply concerned that legislation of this kind has severe unintended consequences that present substantial barriers for all citizens to exercise their political and moral responsibilities. We strongly urge all citizens in Missouri to contact their representatives and ask them to vote against this measure,” said Sr. Jane Hotstream, RSM, president of the St. Louis Regional Community of the Sisters of Mercy

How many people will be disenfranchised in your county?

If you ask voters who would be affected by Missouri's proposed ID law, this is not a partisan issue. While it is quickly spun as one in Jefferson City, HJR48 will impact voters from all areas of the state and prevent them from casting a ballot, regardless of which party they support.

Seniors from rural counties may have a particularly difficult time proving their citizenship, as it is shown that birth certificates were not always issued outside of big-city hospitals for several decades.

In 2006, the Missouri Secretary of State's office compared the DMV files with the voter registration files... and guess what? Almost 240,000 Missourians who are registered to vote do not have a state-issued photo ID.

To see a list of how many voters per county may be affected, click here:
http://www.sos.mo.gov/inc/RegVotersCountsByCounty.pdf

FOX 2 News: A Closer Look at Photo ID Proposal

Charles Jaco, for FOX 2 News:
"No place in the United States have we been able to find one single case of where an illegal has attempted to vote using fraudulent documents... most voter fraud cases involve absentee ballots.

...Let's face it. There are a lot of people, older people, who don't have birth certificates and certainly don't have passports. If they decide they are going to register to vote, maybe for the first time, they have no documents."


Watch the detailed coverage here by clicking on "Related Items: VIDEOS" in the sidebar:
http://www.myfoxstl.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=6553864&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.1.1

D'Antoni and Levine Radio show feature MO Photo ID

Politics and culture with Washington D.C- based reporter Art Levine and Tom D'Antoni Oregon-based writer and TV producer:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/tomandart

Major Newspapers From Across the State Weigh In

“Those without photo ID generally are women, the elderly or the poor. We have enough bureaucracy. Heaping on one more barrier, or making the system even more prohibitive for some, smacks of political gamesmanship. ...Let’s get down to taking care of problems that are real.”

In our view: Photo ID not needed,” The Joplin Globe, May 15, 2008

“A photo isn’t necessary to prove who you are. Missouri’s current voter ID law protects against voter fraud but it gives options for identifying yourself at the polls… The last two secretaries of state, [Robin] Carnahan and Matt Blunt, reported no instances of election fraud by persons impersonating legitimate voters. The real deception is being perpetrated by legislators, whose claims of fraud are driving what appears to be a political agenda.”

Voter ID laws have put a lock on the ballot box, The Kansas City Star, May 11, 2008

“The Constitution makes no exception for a “few” instances of disenfranchised voters. It says all who are eligible are entitled to vote.”

“Voter ID rules must preserve rights,” St. Joe News-Press, May 15, 2008

“...This law merely is an attempt to suppress the votes of poor, elderly and disabled Missourians who don’t have drivers licenses or state ID cards. [The voter ID bill] solves a problem that doesn’t exist and will deny the vote to many of the state’s least advantaged citizens. It’s the political equivalent of deliberately swerving a car to run over squirrels and turtles. Pure meanness.”

“Pure meanness,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 13, 2008

The research is clear: Strict requirements would disenfranchise Missourians

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities released a paper today analyzing who would be affected by the proposed changes to Missouri's Constitution. Read the paper here: http://www.cbpp.org/5-15-08citdoc.htm

"the estimated 238,000 Missourians who lack these documents would include:

• more than 90,000 rural residents;

• 70,000 low-income residents;

• 50,000 residents without a high school diploma;

• 50,000 elderly residents; and

• 40,000 African Americans."

from FiredUpMissouri.com:

Word to People in Wheelchairs: Sen. Loudon Thinks Because You Don’t Drive You are Lazy and You Shouldn’t be Allowed to Vote

Although there were many other worthy submissions of offensive quotes, the Heartless Quote of the Week goes to Senator John Loudon, hands down:

Republican Sen. John Loudon ridiculed concerns [voiced by nuns, elderly, disabled, student, poor and minority voters] that the photo ID requirement amounted to a tax on voters.

"The only thing taxing is you have to get off your duff and get an ID that's given away for free," Loudon said.

Yes, Loudon told that to Kathleen Weinschenk, who has cerebral palsy and doesn’t drive - and who wouldn’t be able to vote without a government-issued photo ID if the heartless GOP has their way.

Story Continued...

Thursday Press on Missouri's ongoing Voter ID battle

Joplin Globe: Photo ID not needed
http://www.joplinglobe.com/editorial/local_story_135202424.html?keyword=topstory


St. Joe News Press: Voter ID rules must preserve rights
http://www.stjoenews.net/news/2008/may/15/voter-id-rules-must-preserve-rights/?opinion


Hullabaloo’s Digby: Here We Go Again
http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/here-we-go-again-by-digby-theres-big.html


Huffington Post: Missourians: Take Action Now or Lose Voting Rights, Dem Victory
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/art-levine/missourians-take-action-n_b_101830.html


Brad Blog: Thor Hearne and GOP Attempt to Rewrite Constitution to Allow Voter Disenfranchisement
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=5988


P-D Political Fix: Updated: More Photo ID anyone?
http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/political-fix/political-fix/2008/05/more-photo-id-anyone/


CDT Politics Blog: Scott: Implementing photo ID mandate in 2008 "impossible"
http://blogs.columbiatribune.com/politics/2008/05/scott_implementing_photo_id_ma.html


CDT: Photo ID compromise would delay effects until 2010
http://www.columbiatribune.com/2008/May/20080514News004.asp


KMOX: Special session threatened by governor
http://www.kmox.com/pages/2189845.php?


American Jewish Committee: AJC Deeply Concerned Over States Voter ID Initiatives
http://www.ajc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=ijITI2PHKoG&b=849241&ct=5360873

HJR48 voted do pass in Senate Committee Hearing

Voters and advocacy groups from across the state testified today in the Senate Financial, Governmental Organizations and Elections committee.

After Indiana ID Ruling: Missouri Rushes to Pass Worst Voting Law

Huffington Post writer Art Levine, author of the Republican War on Voting posted an article following up on the proposed legislation in Missouri:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/art-levine/after-id-ruling-missouri_b_101261.html

Levine also looks at the impact of similar rules in Arizona, which have led to 38,000 voter registration applications being rejected.

New York Times front page story

As the fight over Missouri's proposed requirements moves to the Senate this week, the rest of the country is paying attention. Lillie Lewis of north St. Louis is quoted in today's New York Times article on voter ID laws across the country.

“That’s downright wrong,” Ms. Lewis said. “I have voted in almost all of the presidential races going back I can’t remember how long, but if they tell me I need a passport or birth certificate that’ll be the end of that.”

Read the full article online here:
Voter ID Battle Shifts to Proof of Citizenship

*** Senate Committee Hearing MONDAY ***

On Monday, May 12, the Senate Financial, Governmental Organizations and Elections committee will hold the hearing for HJR48 at 1:30pm. Unfortunately, the Senate goes back to session at 2pm, which will leave extremely little time for public testimony on this important bill.

Several Missouri voters who lack government-issued photo IDs or birth certificates as well as community leaders from across the state will testify in opposition to the proposed legislation. The proposed legislation would make Missouri one of the toughest states in the country for eligible citizens who want to vote.

Missourians for Fair Elections will host a PRESS CONFERENCE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING the hearing on HJR48.

WHO: Missourians for Fair Elections
WHAT: Press Conference
WHEN: 2:00 PM, Monday, May 12, 2008
WHERE: Senate Lounge, State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO

Channel 4 coverage of press conference

Robin Carnahan on Huffington Post

Secretary of State Robin Carnahan wrote a guest column that was printed today:

"As Missouri's Secretary of State, I will continue to fight for free, fair and accurate elections that allow all eligible Missourians to participate in the political process. But across the country, people need to know the real story and the real impact of these laws. Quite simply, they are undermining our democracy."

Read the full article here:
Elections Can't Really be Fair, Free and Accurate if Eligible Voters Can't Vote

Jay Nixon weighs in

Attorney general and gubernatorial candidate Jay Nixon released an emailed statement this morning, strongly criticizing the proposed photo ID measure.

An excerpt is posted online here:
Nixon Lambastes Photo Identification Measure

News Clips from 5/8 Press Conference

Coverage of the press conference ran on KTVI, KMOV, and KPLR last night.

AP story:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MO_XGR_VOTER_ID_MOOL-?SITE=MOCOD&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_129230510.html
http://cw11tv.trb.com/news/kplr-news-050808-04,0,2140295.story
http://www.kmov.com/topstories/stories/kmov_localnews_080508_idcard.dfaf9819.html

Others:
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kwmu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1274337
http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/political-fix/political-fix/2008/05/more-fuel-on-the-photo-id-fire/
http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/11616
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kwmu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1274262
http://publicbroadcasting.net/kbia/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1274738&sectionID=1

National blogs watching Missouri

Several national political blogs have picked up the story:

Daily Kos
Missouri House Votes To Disenfranchise 240,000

Time Magazine's Swampland
Nuns Strike Back

America Blog
In Missouri, the nuns are fighting against the onerous voter ID law

Missourians for Fair Elections PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 8, 2008
Contact: Missourians for Fair Elections, mofairelections@gmail.com

Photo ID and documentary proof of citizenship requirements would disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of Missouri voters

ST LOUIS – Missouri lawmakers this week are working to rush legislation that would prevent up to 240,000 Missourians from voting. The proposed legislation would make Missouri one of the toughest states in the country for eligible citizens who want to vote by requiring voters to present a government-issued photo ID at the polls. If passed, these changes could be in place by the November general election.

“Missouri already has a voter identification law that ensures that eligible voters are who they say they are on Election Day” stated Denise Lieberman, a lawyer and voter protection advocate with Advancement Project in Missouri. “Even if photo IDs are provided free of cost, obtaining the underlying documents needed to prove your identity costs money and can be difficult or impossible to obtain. No Missourian should be deprived of the right to vote because government bureaucracy will not provide them a copy of their birth certificate.”

Lillie Lewis, a St. Louis resident knows that frustration. “I have tried everything to get a copy of my birth certificate,” says Lewis, “but Mississippi says they have no record of my birth.” Although she believes she was born in 1935, the social security administration says her year of birth was 1936. Because she is not able to obtain a birth certificate and because of the confusion surrounding her birth, Mrs. Lewis may not be able to vote under the proposed voter photo ID law.

A survey by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law found that 52 percent of married women don’t have a birth certificate in their current name, and 17 percent of citizens age 65 and over don’t have access to citizenship documents. A February Rock the Vote survey also showed that 19 percent of citizens age 18-29 do not have their current address on their ID. Establishing these rigid documentation requirements could keep hundreds of thousands of Missourians from casting a vote at the polls this November.

At Tuesday’s Indiana primary twelve nuns were turned away from the polls because they lacked the needed government-issued photo IDs to vote. When Sister Sandy Schwartz of the Franciscan Sisters of Mary in St. Louis heard the story, she did an informal survey of 35 nuns in her convent. "Fifteen did not have state-issued photo IDs,” said Sister Schwartz. “This may sound like a good idea at first, but once you stop to think about who would really be affected, this is going to keep a lot of our loved ones from being able to vote.” Sister Schwartz and others are concerned that strict documentary identification requirements would create hardships for Missouri nuns and other senior citizens.

Missourians for Fair Elections, a coalition of voting rights groups that includes the League of Women Voters, AARP and others, convened in St. Louis today to encourage the Missouri State Senate to vote the legislation down. Supporters included Secretary of State Robin Carnahan and citizens who would not meet the law’s strict documentation requirements.


# # #

League of Women Voters Calls on Representative Cox to keep his word and withdraw Voter ID Legislation

The Missouri League of Women Voters issued a press release today:

“$6.4 Million to “Fix” Non-existent Problem is Political Theatre at its Worst”

Jo Sapp, President of the Missouri LWV, also wrote a letter to the KC Star. Both of these pieces are availible on their website: http://lwvmissouri.org/