Voter identification bill takes one more step
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Voter identification bill takes one more step

Date: February 15, 2011
By: Kacie Yearout
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
The Missouri Senate gave first round approval to legislation that requires a non-expired photo-id to vote on election day.
RunTime:  0:30
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: If someone does not have a photo-id with them, the bill would allow for the person to vote and their registration status verified later.

Napton Senator Bill Stouffer sponsors the bill. He says that photo-id is already a standard.

Actuality:  STFFER2.WAV
Run Time:  00:07
Description: "It just brings about integrity of our voting. We're not trying to supress any votes, we're not trying to create any problems."

But on the other side, st. Louis City Senator Robin Wright-Jones does not support the bill. She says it creates a burden for some citizens.

From the Capitol, I'm Kacie Yearout.


Intro: 
After adding amendments, the Missouri Senate gave first round approval to a bill requiring voters to present photo-id to vote.
RunTime:  0:39
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap:In 2006, the Missouri Supreme Court said a previous state law requiring photo-id to vote was unconstituional.   

This time Republican legislators are proposing putting the photo-id issue into the constituion.

St. Louis City Senator Robin Wright-Jones opposes the legislation, but anticipates the bill will pass.

Actuality:  WJ3.WAV
Run Time:  00:10
Description: "There's no point in us putting this burden back on our citizens, we wound up in court before, and we have not resolved that. Again, it's before us, so it may one more time move forward."

She says getting a photo-id is a hardship for some people and creates an obtacle for voting.

The bill sponsor says it would add integrity to voting.

From the Capitol, I'm Kacie Yearout.