The Senate committee overseeing election-related bills approved legislation giving Missourians a say on photo identification requirements for voters Monday. The Senate Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections committee passed House Joint Resolution 53, which would put a constitutional amendment on a statewide ballot allowing voter ID requirements. The committee also approved House Bill 1631, which would implement a photo ID requirement for voters should Missourians approve the House Joint Resolution 53 amendment.
Sen. Will Kraus (R-Lee’s Summit), who is handling the legislation in the Senate and sponsored the companion resolution and bill, said Missourians deserve to vote on this issue. “Voter photo ID is a common sense way to protect the integrity of elections,” Kraus said. “In my experience, most people are surprised we don’t already require a photo ID to vote.”
If approved by a statewide vote, House Joint Resolution 53, sponsored by Rep. Tony Duggar (R-Hartville), would not automatically institute a voter ID requirement. The Legislature would also have to pass a bill to institute the requirement, which House Bill 1631 would accomplish.
Full Article: PR: Senate advances voter ID legislation – The Missouri Times.