Missouri law requiring photo ID to vote remains in place: 'Big win for election security'

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said the court's upholding of the state law requiring photo ID to vote is a “huge victory for election security.”

“Missouri today demonstrated how we will deal with extremist activists who come to states where elections are safe and seek to undermine our states through the legal process,” Bailey told FOX News Digital. said in an exclusive statement.

Bailey added that this was a big win for the Show Me State.

In a post on ” he said.

Court upholds red state ban on trans surgeries and treatment of minors

Elon Musk also shared his support and praise for the Missouri court's ruling.

“Congratulations, AG Bailey! We need this nationwide right now,” Musk wrote in a post to X.

The Missouri court's decision to uphold the voter ID law comes after intense criticism from groups who argue that such a requirement could disenfranchise voters.

However, Bailey's office successfully presented evidence supporting the law's necessity and effectiveness in preserving the integrity of the voting process. The court's decision confirmed that voter ID laws do not impose a burden on voters.

Missouri is also offering free driver's licenses for voting to those who do not yet have a driver's license or who currently have one. The Department of Health's Vital Records Office is offering free birth certificates to first-time non-driver license applicants in order to vote if the applicant does not have a current driver's license.

Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro upholds state Supreme Court ruling not to count certain mail-in ballots

Cole County Circuit Court Judge John Beetem ruled Monday that Missouri law requiring photo identification to vote will remain in place. (Getty Images)

“The state has gone to great lengths to help voters obtain identification, so there has been no significant burden on the right to vote,” Bailey said in an earlier court filing.

In October 2022, Cole County Chief Judge John Beetem already spoke to the Missouri League of Women Voters, the NAACP, and the Republican-controlled state Legislature passing legislation requiring voters to present a photo ID to vote. It had dismissed a lawsuit filed by two voters who challenged the law requiring it. regular ballot paper. Under the 2022 law, people with a valid government-issued photo ID can still submit a provisional ballot and either return the same day with their photo ID or Provisional ballots will be counted if election officials verify the signatures.

A Missouri court has decided to uphold the state's voter ID law that Andrew Bailey fought for. (Vanessa Abbitt/After Deployment to St. Louis/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Republicans have argued that the purpose of the 2022 law is to deter voter fraud, but plaintiffs in the lawsuit argue that the law creates unconstitutional hurdles to voting and suppresses voter turnout. .

Before the 2022 midterm elections, Missourians will be allowed to present a voter registration card, student ID, bank statement or utility bill, or valid driver's license to vote in the state. Ta.

The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that 36 states require or require identification to vote, and at least 20 of those states require a photo ID.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Other Republican-led states are moving in the same direction as Missouri, which could serve as a blueprint for national policy.

“I'm proud that Missouri continues to lead the nation in securing elections,” Bailey said.

Critics argue that such a requirement is an overreaction that could disenfranchise voters.

Fox News Digital’s Danielle Wallace and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com.