Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against New Voter ID Law

A Cole County circuit judge on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit challenging an elections law requiring a government-issued photo identification to vote. Court documents show Judge Jon Beetem ruled the lawsuit, filed by the Missouri chapter of the NAACP and League of Women Voters of Missouri, failed to show that the new law would be “unconstitutionally burdensome for every voter in Missouri” and that the organizations lacked standing to bring the suit. This means voters will have to use a valid photo ID at the polls on November 8. Provisional ballots will be given to those who do not present proper identification. In a statement, the Missouri ACLU and Missouri Voter Protection Coalition said they will continue to “press the case to get a decision from the Missouri Supreme Court”.