ACLU challenging Missouri’s Voter ID Law

Posted on July 17, 2006

At least 16 St. Louis area Democrats have been found guilty of election crimes in the last year and a half!

Democratic officials from St. Louis and Kansas City sued the state Monday, trying to block a new Republican-backed law requiring voters to show photo identification from taking effect for the November election.

Republican Gov. Matt Blunt signed the law about a month ago, praising it as a way to build public trust in elections. The measure requires voters to show a photo identification issued by Missouri or the federal government, such as a driver’s license, to cast a regular ballot.

Those lacking such IDs this fall can cast provisional ballots, which would count if their signatures matched those on file with election authorities and they’re in the right polling place. In future elections, only the elderly, disabled and those with religious objections to carrying photo identification could vote without one, and only by provisional ballot.

The lawsuit, filed Monday in Cole County Circuit Court, the seat of state government, claims the law violates a state constitutional provision against imposing costs on local governments without providing state funding, commonly referred to as the Hancock amendment. It seeks a permanent injunction blocking the law from being enforced and class-action status.

“Our overall concern is that the new law is going to leave people out who want to vote, who deserve to vote and who are qualified to vote,” Anthony Rothert, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri, said in a written statement.

Plaintiffs include the city of St. Louis and Mayor Francis Slay, St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley, Jackson County and its executive, Katheryn Shields. All the elected officials are Democrats. The ACLU is representing the local governments and officials.

One official noted that they anticipated a lawsuit and that they thought those filing it were struggling for an issue. Scott G at Ah, Shoot tells it like it is:

The fact that Missouri “law provides for free photo IDs that voters can obtain before Election Day,” negates any charge that the poor or minorities are disenfranchised by this law. Laziness is no excuse for failing to acquire ID.

Predictably the Dem leaders whine and cry: “‘Our overall concern is that the new law is going to leave people out who want to vote, who deserve to vote and who are qualified to vote,’ said Anthony Rothert, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri, whose group announced the lawsuit.” Yeah, “people who want to vote” can go get a free ID, people “who deserve to vote” can go get a free ID, people “who are qualified to vote” can go get a free ID. Oops, I forgot, illegal aliens, felons, and the dead can’t get ID now can they?

I guess we know which party the ACLU roots for in this supposed “non-partisan” lawsuit. In my opinion it is quite disingenuous how the ACLU is arguing this, however it is also a crafty little loophole that just might work. It will be interesting to see how many different state ACLU’s sue similar attempts to stop voter fraud and how many other dishonest arguments they will use for it. It most certainly is not out of concern for disenfranchised voters when they are providing mobile ID distributers going to elderly homes, and providing other means for those without IDs at voting time. It sure seems to be an attempt to protect voter fraud.

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One Response to “ACLU challenging Missouri’s Voter ID Law”

kerwin_brown on July 17th, 2006 5:53 pm

So does the state pay for accused felons to be be indicted, tried, and jailed?

If it doesn’t then the states laws against theft, murder, and other felonies violate the state constitution according to the ACLU.

I like the Hancock Amendment but it should only apply against social services, like schools, and not procedured to stop criminal actions.