Legislators in Missouri took two steps in the right direction by working to adopt election reform requiring voters to present voter ID at the polling place and those who register to vote to supply proof of citizenship. Both of these are steps Maryland should take as well, but we all know who’s blocking this common-sense legislation. (Hint: their party name starts with a D, and they’re famous for having a lot of deceased voters in cities like Chicago.)
Of course, naysayers called these measures too onerous despite the fact that the state of Missouri would provide the photo identification in question to those who can’t afford the nominal cost to receive one. According to a New York Times story by Ian Urbina, Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan estimated that 240,000 Missourians would be disenfranchised; however it’s not clear she arrived at this figure, which would represent about 6% of Missouri’s 4 million registered voters if her estimates were true. Most residents of Missouri would qualify simply by holding a driver’s license which also showed proof of citizenship.
Much like Maryland, Missouri’s legislative session is not full-time and time ran out on the voter ID proposal when their session ended last Friday. While the Missouri House of Representatives passed the voter ID bill, the Missouri Senate did not take the time to consider it as minority Democrats threatened to filibuster the bill and hold up other priority items for Republicans, including Governor Matt Blunt.
So common sense is thwarted again as Democrats fight tooth and nail to protect their voter base of illegal immigrants and cemetery residents.
Well… they should make it a law for the 2012 election. Give folks four years to comply or be ‘disenfranchised.’ We need legislators to take a long view here… why are they trying to get this done for November? Take a long view, lawmakers!