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Cruise Kansas News
Confusion, questions surround voter ID rules
Tuesday, October 9, 2012 10:17 pm GMT
When Kansas voters head to the polls in four weeks they will need to show government-issued photo identification in order to cast a ballot but that's not the case in Missouri.
Missouri congressman Rep. Emanuel Cleaver said that he's worried that the different rules will create confusion.
Cleaver said he had a teleconference with voters last week and said some seniors on the line said they don't drive anymore and no longer carry photo identification.
"I was stunned to find out that some seniors in our area think they need a photo ID" Cleaver said.
The Platte County Election Board was the only one in the Kansas City area that said it had heard similar questions and concerns from voters but other counties elsewhere in the state said people have asked about it there.
Stacie Temple a spokeswoman for the Missouri Secretary of State's Office said it's not surprising especially near the border with Kansas.
"I think there is some natural confusion around here because of that. And there have been efforts in the Legislature to do that" she said. "Some people may not know what the outcome of those (efforts) are."
Missouri lawmakers did pass a photo ID requirement several years ago but it was struck down in the courts. Lawmakers have made additional attempts since then.
Cleaver said his campaign for re-election will start spreading the word.
"If we're unable to get the word out I think it could do some damage" he said. "We'll have a lot of seniors who will stay home because they don't have a voter ID and they believe they cannot vote without it."
Missourians without driver's licenses can bring the voter ID cards sent out by county election boards a student ID or a bank statement or utility bill that bears the voter's name and address.
This is the first year for the photo ID requirement in Kansas. No problems have come up but the system will face its biggest test during next month's election.
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Tuesday, October 9, 2012 10:17 pm GMTWhen Kansas voters head to the polls in four weeks they will need to show government-issued photo identification in order to cast a ballot but that's not the case in Missouri.
Missouri congressman Rep. Emanuel Cleaver said that he's worried that the different rules will create confusion.
Cleaver said he had a teleconference with voters last week and said some seniors on the line said they don't drive anymore and no longer carry photo identification.
"I was stunned to find out that some seniors in our area think they need a photo ID" Cleaver said.
The Platte County Election Board was the only one in the Kansas City area that said it had heard similar questions and concerns from voters but other counties elsewhere in the state said people have asked about it there.
Stacie Temple a spokeswoman for the Missouri Secretary of State's Office said it's not surprising especially near the border with Kansas.
"I think there is some natural confusion around here because of that. And there have been efforts in the Legislature to do that" she said. "Some people may not know what the outcome of those (efforts) are."
Missouri lawmakers did pass a photo ID requirement several years ago but it was struck down in the courts. Lawmakers have made additional attempts since then.
Cleaver said his campaign for re-election will start spreading the word.
"If we're unable to get the word out I think it could do some damage" he said. "We'll have a lot of seniors who will stay home because they don't have a voter ID and they believe they cannot vote without it."
Missourians without driver's licenses can bring the voter ID cards sent out by county election boards a student ID or a bank statement or utility bill that bears the voter's name and address.
This is the first year for the photo ID requirement in Kansas. No problems have come up but the system will face its biggest test during next month's election.
Go Back
