Missouri's photo identification law doesn't apply to absentee ballots

The new law requiring a Missourians to show a photo ID when voting does not affect those who plan to vote absentee in the November election.

Acceptable identification for absentee voting include an IDs issued by the state of Missouri, U.S. government or any Missouri institution of higher education. A current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or other government document containing the name and address of the voter may be substituted as a valid form of ID.

This means those who do not have a driver's license or state identification card can vote in the November election using other less restrictive forms of identification. Unlike the provisional ballots being offered to voters who don't have proper ID, absentee ballots are counted in every election.

Whether the lesser restrictions constitute a loophole in the law is up to voters to decide, said Mike Seitz, spokesman for Secretary of State Robin Carnahan.

Seitz said anyone voting absentee must affirm with a signature on the ballot envelope that he or she will be absent or incapable of voting for an acceptable reason on election day. No further proof is required.

Ballots available

Locally, voters may pick up an absentee ballot at the county clerk's office in Barton Square in Jackson or at the Common Pleas Annex, 44 N. Lorimier St. in Cape Girardeau.

Applications that are mailed to the local election authority must be received by Aug. 2 for the Aug. 8 primaries or by Nov. 1 for the Nov. 7 election.

The photo ID requirement will not apply to voters participating in the August primary.

Voters may also vote absentee in person up to one day before either election at either of the two county clerk locations.

A lawsuit has been filed seeking to stop the photo ID law from being implemented. The suit claims the law restricts voting rights in violation of the Hancock Amendment, added to the Missouri Constitution in 1980. The amendment prohibits imposing new burdens on local government without full funding from the state.

The suit was filed by elected officials from St. Louis and Kansas City who are being represented by lawyers from the ACLU. It is being heard in Cole County Circuit Court.

Cape Girardeau County Clerk Rodney Miller said absentee voting for the August primary has been "moderate to less than moderate." He said he expects the rate to be much higher for the November election, when college students are away and political parties try to get out the vote.

The Missouri Department of Revenue is pushing to obtain state identification cards for the elderly and disabled. Nineteen Mobile ID card systems consisting of laptops with cameras and signature pads are being rotated around the state under the supervision of 22 temporary state employees.

An ID card is then mailed directly to an applicant. There are just under 200,000 voting-age Missourians without a proper photo ID.

Miller said he expects a van unit to make a trip to the area but does not know where or when.

tgreaney@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245