A development of interest to our conversation, from Missouri. Drawn from several news sources, all of which were googled with “Missouri voter id law”.
Be advised, forthwith and forthrightly, your correspondent makes no claims whatsoever regarding the constitutionality of these proceedings. Only that it presents an interesting option.
To ovesimplify, the Dems and Pubbies have been wrangling in Missouri for years about this issue of voter id, and appear to have come to a sort of compromise. The idea being to produce a voter id law that soothes the fears and bolsters voter confidence while avoiding the injustices of other such efforts.
The prospective voter may register and vote with a wide variety of identifications, including official mail and even utility bills. He must sign an affidavit that he attests and avers under penalty of perjury that he is who he says he is, and is legally entitled to register and vote (to the best of his knowledge, of course…). He is then a registered voter and voter id will be provided to him by the state. (There is mention that the registree may opt to have a picture taken and included in his registration records, this serving as proof in the future, should that be needed. What a brilliant idea, a pity none of us were smart enough to think of that…)
(A particular though perhaps minor note: the affidavit and the attached penalty for falsification. It has been suggested herein that the reason why there are so few cases of voter fraud to prosecute was due to the lack of any such laws. Well, that’s fixed. We may all breathe the easier…)
There is also mention of commitment on the part of the state to “go the extra mile” in order to provide documentation to whomsoever may request such aid. For the sake of the discussion, I am taking them at their word. That the Republicans of Missouri are so fraught with dread over voter confidence, they are willing to set aside those parts of a voter id law that Dems find objectionable.
If this is true, this is splendid news. One "“Hosanna!” and about half a “Hallelujah!”. Gives the Republican what they claim they want, and avoids the injustice. Not only does it not insult the less worthy voters of Missouri, it extends a welcoming and cooperative hand! Signs and wonders!
Those of you who follow my thought herein are both aware that I regard Republicans with a gimlet eye. But for the sake of our discussion, let us pretend that I can make that leap of faith, or fling myself off the edge of the world into the Void. Whatever.
Seems to me that this is exactly what we all should want. A little work, a bit of effort, a dash of mutual regard, and there you have it! Voter confidence is assured, and injustic avoided. If all of this is pretty much the truth, I will be first to applaud the honest conservatives who joined in sincere compromise with their betters. A ray of spring sunshine, that even among the Forces of Darkness there are sparks of light.
Now, there is some state consititutional wrinkle involved here, something about how the state consitution forbids voter id laws. But a poor old peckerwood from Waco is in no position to offer comment.