Ashcroft launches Missouri’s new voter ID law

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft on June 1 announced Missouri’s new voter ID law is now in effect. Ashcroft began a statewide Voter ID Informational Tour on Monday, June 5, starting in Columbia, to meet with the public and media to inform and publicize Missouri’s Photo Voter ID law.

In November 2016, Missourians passed Constitutional Amendment 6 to approve photo voter ID and, this year, the Secretary of State’s Office has and will continue to work closely with local election authorities and poll workers statewide to effectively implement the new law.

“We heard the voice of Missouri voters loud and clear in November and have worked diligently to implement photo voter ID,” Ashcroft said “If you’re a registered voter, you can vote. It’s important that we protect the integrity of our elections by ensuring that every vote counts, but only once.”

Public Service Announcements began airing on radio and television networks across the state informing Missourians of the new voter ID law.

Ashcroft asked voters who do not have a photo ID to vote to call the Show It 2 Vote Hotline at 866-868-3245.

If a voter does not have a government-issued photo ID, such as a Missouri driver license, nondriver license, U.S. Passport, or U.S. Military ID, the voter can provide other documents, such as a Voter Registration Card, and sign a statement that affirms his or her identity. If the voter has no documents available, he or she may cast a provisional ballot. That ballot counts if the voter brings an acceptable photo ID back to the polling place that day, or if the signature matches the signature on file with local election officials.

On Monday, Ashcroft   began the Voter ID Informational Tour in Columbia at 8 a.m. at the Boone County Government Center and made stops in Kirksville, Maryville and St. Joseph. Tuesday, the tour starts off in Blue Springs and Raymore and went south to Nevada and Springfield. On Wednesday, Ashcroft traveled southern Missouri hosting events in West Plains, Poplar Bluff, Caruthersville, Jackson and Festus, ending the day in St. Louis. Several stops are scheduled in St. Louis on Thursday. On Friday, Ashcroft will begin in Wright City, and make stops in Washington, Sullivan, Farmington and Ste. Genevieve.

Visit ShowIt2Vote.com for a detailed schedule.