Missouri Judge Has Issue with Voter ID Ballot Language
April 2, 2012

 

A Republican-backed voter ID ballot measure took one on the chin from a Missouri judge who said the summary statement was "insufficient and unfair as a matter of law." The proposed constitutional amendment would require a Missouri voter to provide a photo ID. Cole County Circuit Judge Patricia Joyce took issue with the wording of the question on the ballot, which reads, "Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to adopt the Voter Protection Act and allow the General Assembly to provide by general law for advance voting prior to election day, voter photo identification requirements, and voter requirements based on whether one appears to vote in person or by absentee ballot?"

Joyce said that even though the phrase "Voter Protection Act" never appears in the constitutional amendment, that phrase is on the ballot question.

"Because significant changes are required here and policy choices may need to be made as to how to reallocate the words in a revised summary statement, the court chooses to vacate the summary statement and to provide the General Assembly an opportunity to revise it," Judge Joyce said.

Read Judge Cole's ruling here.