Second lawsuit seeks to strike down Missouri voter photo ID law
Last updated Thursday, August 3, 2006 7:20 PM CDT in News
By Kelly Wiese
The Associated Press
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Opponents of a new state law requiring voters to show government-issued photo identification filed a second lawsuit Thursday, claiming it could discourage or prevent people from voting in November.
The challenge filed in Cole County Circuit Court seeks a preliminary injunction to block the law from taking effect Aug. 28 and wants the law declared unconstitutional.
Plaintiffs include several voters who say they lack an acceptable identification under the new law and therefore could not cast a regular ballot in the November general election.
Republican Gov. Matt Blunt has praised the new law as a way to build public trust in elections.
Last month, Democrats in St. Louis and Kansas City filed a lawsuit claiming the law unconstitutionally imposes costs on local governments without providing state funding. No hearing has been set.
The challenge filed Thursday said the photo ID requirement infringes on the fundamental right to vote under the Missouri Constitution, and claims it disproportionately harms black and female voters, along with the poor, elderly or disabled who may not drive and have no license.
The requirement also imposes costs on those trying to obtain a photo ID, the suit said. The ID is free, but applicants must show a certified birth certificate, which costs $15 to obtain.
A federal judge last month blocked the state of Georgia from enforcing its new voter ID law this year. U.S. District Judge Harold Murphy said the Georgia photo ID requirement discriminated against people who don’t have driver’s licenses, passports or other government identification.
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