State Supreme Court Accepts Voter Photo ID Appeal

Whether Missourians will have to display photo identification before casting a ballot in November will be decided by the State Supreme Court. The court has agreed to hear the case the first of October. Lawyers must file their paperwork by next week. The court will hear the case October 4th. Attorney Thor Hearne represents the sponsor of the law, Sen. Delbert Scott (R-Lowry City). Hearne’s counting on the Supreme Court to overturn a circuit judge’s ruling that threw the law out. The ruling though, by Cole County Circuit Judge Richard Callahan, was broad, finding the requirement that voters display photo identification at the polls violated the fundamental right to vote outlined in the state constitution. Hearne rejects Callahan’s reasons. He says the legislature made provisions in the law to give away free IDs to the upwards of 200,000 Missourians who don’t have one. The judge noted that many would have to pay for documents needed to obtain the free IDs.