Voter Photo ID Amendment Thrown Out: A Major Victory for Voters in Missouri

Posted on April 02, 2012 by Amanda Beals

This week, Cole County Circuit Court Judge Patricia S. Joyce ruled that the ballot language of Missouri’s proposed voter ID constitutional amendment was deceptive and misleading. Therefore, it would not give voters an accurate representation of what they were voting for. As a result, this ballot initiative was invalidated and taken off the November ballot.

This is a victory for all Missouri voters. At Paraquad, we believe every citizen should have the opportunity to participate fully in the democratic process. By refusing to allow a deceptive and misleading ballot measure, Missouri is taking a step in the right direction by protecting the foundations of our democracy: the voice of the people.

While this particular ballot measure will not appear on the November ballot; there is no guarantee that voters will not face a Voter Photo ID amendment this election year. The attorney general’s office is deciding whether it will appeal Judge Joyce’s ruling. Further, Representative Schoeller has introduced HJR 89 which would place a proposed constitutional amendment to allow photo ID on the November ballot.   

Paraquad will continue to follow this issue and make sure that the democratic process is open to all people with disabilities so that we can have an equal voice in our society.

Missouri Court Strikes Down Voter ID Constitutional Amendment Proposal - Advancement Project

Judge Strikes Down Mo. Voter ID Ballot Summary - The Joplin Globe