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Legislation could make it harder for some to vote

February 6, 2006
By: Tim Walker
State Capital Bureau

New legislation aimed at reducing voter fraud may actually make it more difficult for some people to vote.

Tim Walker has more from Jefferson City.

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The Missouri Voter Protection Act would require a government issued photo ID before voters could cast their ballots.

But under the state's Show Me Proof requirements, a birth certificate or passport is required to obtain an ID, and this could be a roadblock for some people.

Southwest Missouri Republican Delbert Scott is sponsoring the bill.

And he insists the goal is to make voting easier.

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"It is our goal to make the confidence of Missouri's voters higher as they go to the poles; to make it easier to vote, harder to cheat."

The bill would go into effect in time for the midterm elections this fall.

From the state Capitol, I'm Tim Walker

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One state senator wants to require all Missourians to present a state photo ID before voting.

Tim Walker has more from Jefferson City.

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Southwest Missouri Republican, Senator Delbert Scott is sponsoring the bill.

He wants the state to provide photo IDs free of charge to everyone who doesn't already have a driver's license.

But it is unclear how much money the plan would cost the state.

Scott says he plans to provide the IDs regardless of the cost.

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"This is the core issue in this whole confidence game of getting people to vote and making sure people vote one time, and one time only, and they're actually the person they say they are."

Scott says more than ninty-five percent of Missourians already have an acceptable photo ID.

From the state Capitol, I'm Tim Walker

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One Missouri lawmaker wants to crack down on voter fraud in time for the November elections.

Tim Walker has more from Jefferson City.

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The Missouri Voter Protection Act would make it a felony to use intimidation and violence to prevent Missourians from casting their ballots.

Southwest Missouri Republican Delbert Scott is sponsoring the bill.

He says stiffening the penalties for fraud will make it easier to vote and harder to cheat.

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"The documentation of voter fraud across the state in recent years has been pretty plain from the 2000 elections up to the audit of 2004."

The bill would also require all voters to present a state issued photo ID before they could vote.

From the state Capitol, I'm Tim Walker.