Missouri House panel backs voter ID changes

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A Missouri House panel has endorsed legislation that would require people to show a photo ID to vote.

The legislation was endorsed Tuesday by a 7-3 vote by the House Elections Committee. Sponsoring House member Shane Schoeller, a Republican from Willard, says the legislation will help prevent people from casting fraudulent ballots.

Opponents of the bill say it will make it more difficult for people who are poor, old or disabled to vote. They say those people could have to take time off from work and pay for transportation to get an ID from a license office.

The bill now goes to the full House. Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, vetoed a similar measure last year.

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Voter Identification bill is HB1104

Online:

Missouri House: http://www.house.mo.gov