A judge in Missouri just upheld a voter ID law that was passed back in 2022 but was challenged by the NAACP and League of Women Voters.
The judge found that showing photo ID is both constitutional and is necessary for a secure election.
Here’s more from ABC News:
A law requiring Missouri voters to show government-issued photo identification to cast regular ballots will stand after a lower-court judge found it constitutional Tuesday.
Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem’s decision upholds the law, which was made possible by a 2016 voter-approved constitutional amendment allowing lawmakers to enact photo ID requirements.
“To maintain a secure system for voting, it only stands to reason that a photo ID should be essential,” Missouri Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft said in a statement praising the ruling.
Voter photo ID supporters such as Ashcroft say the practice prevents voter fraud and improves public confidence in election results. Voting rights advocates say getting the records needed to obtain proper photo identification can be challenging, especially for older voters and people with disabilities.
The National Conference of State Legislatures reports 36 states request or require identification to vote, of which at least 21