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Missouri Voter ID Requirement, Constitutional Amendment 6 (2016)
| Missouri Amendment 6 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 8, 2016 | |
| Topic Voting policy measures | |
Status Approved | |
| Type Constitutional amendment | Origin State legislature |
| 2016 measures |
|---|
 |
| November 8 |
| Amendment 1 |
| Amendment 2 |
Amendment 3  |
| Amendment 4 |
| Amendment 6 |
| Proposition A |
| Polls |
| Voter guides |
| Campaign finance |
| Signature costs |
A Missouri Voter ID Requirement Amendment, also known as Constitutional Amendment 6, was on the November 8, 2016, ballot in Missouri as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment.[1] It was approved.
| A "yes" vote supported allowing the state government to require the presentation of voter IDs at public elections in order to prove national and state citizenship. |
| A "no" vote opposed this proposal to allow the state government to require the presentation of voter IDs at public elections for the purpose of identifying and proving national and state citizenship. |
Election results
| Amendment 6 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 1,712,274 | 63.01% | ||
| No | 1,005,234 | 36.99% | ||
- Election results from Missouri Secretary of State
Overview
Voter ID in Missouri
In September 2016, the Missouri Legislature overrode Gov. Nixon’s (D) veto of House Bill 1631, which requires voters to present identification. The legislation designated the following as valid forms of voters’ identification: non-expired state driver’s licenses, non-expired and expired state non-driver’s licenses, documents by the federal or state government containing the name and photo of the individual, and any non-expired armed services identification containing a photograph. HB 1631 was designed to allow persons without ID to vote if they present a school identification, utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or other government document, permit their picture be taken, and sign a statement. House Bill 1631 became effective upon voter approval of Amendment 6.
Amendment design
Amendment 6 authorized the state to require voters to present a form of identification to vote. The measure also allowed exceptions to be made.
State of the ballot measure campaigns
The opposition campaign, Protect Missouri Voters, outraised supporters 80-to-1. As of November 17, 2016, opponents received $284,421, and supporters raised $3,555. The top donor to the “No” campaign was the Missouri National Education Association, which contributed $100,000. The top donor to the “Yes” campaign was Jay Ashcroft’s campaign committee, which contributed $3,530. Gov. Jay Nixon (D) opposed Amendment 6.
Text of measure
Ballot title
The official ballot title was as follows:[2]
| “ |
Shall the Constitution of Missouri be amended to state that voters may be required by law, which may be subject to exception, to verify one’s identity, citizenship, and residence by presenting identification that may include valid government-issued photo identification? The proposed amendment will result in no costs or savings because any potential costs would be due to the enactment of a general law allowed by this proposal. If such a general law is enacted, the potential costs to state and local governments is unknown, but could exceed $2.1 million annually.[3] |
” |
Fair ballot language
An explanation of the ballot language was as follows:[2]
| “ |
A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to state that voters may be required by law to verify their identity, citizenship, and residence by presenting identification that may include valid government-issued photo identification. Exceptions to this identification requirement may also be provided by law. A “no” vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution regarding elections. If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes.[3] |
” |
Constitutional changes
- See also: Article VIII, Missouri Constitution
The measure added a Section 11 to Article VIII of the Missouri Constitution. The following text was added by the measure's approval:[1]
Support
Supporters
Officials
The following legislators sponsored Amendment 6 in the Missouri Legislature:[1]
- Rep. Nick King (R-17)
- Rep. Dave Muntzel (R-48)
- Rep. Justin Hill (R-108)
- Rep. Bryan Spencer (R-63)
- Rep. Warren Love (R-125)
- Rep. Jered Taylor (R-139)
- Rep. Rebecca Roeber (R-34)
- Rep. Lindell Shumake (R-5)
- Rep. Kevin Corlew (R-14)
- Rep. Keith Frederick (R-121)
- Rep. Sheila Solon (R-31)
- Rep. Justin Alferman (R-61)
- Rep. Nate Walker (R-3)
- Former Rep. Tony Dugger (R-141)
Other officials who supported the amendment included:
Individuals
Arguments
- Former Rep. Tony Dugger (R-141), the amendment's primary legislative sponsor, argued, "There's the potential out there for voter fraud. Being a former county clerk and working on elections for fourteen years, I think it's a good measure to put in place in the state of Missouri -- to have the security there."[6]
- Jay Ashcroft, an attorney and 2016 Republican candidate for Missouri Secretary of State, said, "In today’s world, fraud and identity theft are constant threats. The best way to protect your vote is a strong voter identification requirement so that you can be confident that no one else is using your name to steal your voice."[5]
Opposition
Protect Missouri Voters, also known as No on 6, led the campaign in opposition to Amendment 6.[7]
Opponents
Officials
- Gov. Jay Nixon (D)[8]
- Attorney Genera Chris Koster (D), 2016 gubernatorial candidate[4]
- Rep. Brandon Ellington (D-22)[9]
Organizations
- Missouri NAACP[8]
- Our Revolution[10]
- League of Women Voters of Missouri[11]
- AARP
- Progress Missouri
- Empower Missouri
- Communities Creating Opportunity
- Missouri Faith Voices
- Metropolitan Congregations United
Unions
Individuals
- Reverend Dr. Cassandra Gould, Director of Missouri Faith Voices[15]
Arguments
A Protect Missouri Voters video
|
Our Revolution, a U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders-backed organization, criticized Amendment 6, arguing:[10]
| “ | As with similar voter suppression measures around the country, this one is backed by Republican state legislators with the hope of disenfranchising up to 200,000 Missouri voters. Those voters include many eligible voters who are less likely to get a drivers license like students, poor people and people of color. It also includes veterans, as a veterans ID would not count for the purpose of voting.
The reality is we have virtually no voter fraud in America. Missouri has had just 2 cases of voter fraud in the last 7 years. What is the fraud is that Republican legislators, in order to help their chances at the polls, are changing laws that disenfranchise thousands of voters. Measures like Amendment 6 have no place in our democracy.[3] |
” |
Other arguments against the measure included:
- Rep. Brandon Ellington (D-22) argued, "Then we hear people say, ‘Well, you know, everybody has an ID, everybody has a bank account.’ Well, that’s ignorance, because that shows the fact that you don’t understand the difference between a privilege and a right. It’s a privilege to have an ID."[9]
- Tefere Gebre, Executive Vice President of the Missouri AFL-CIO, contended, “Our intention is to expand democracy, not shrink it. We have to do our best to make sure Amendment 6 does not become a real thing.”[12]
- Laura Swinford, Executive Director of Progress Missouri, stated, “The amendment is really simple, and dangerous in its simplicity. What it does is open the barn door to any kind of extremist restriction that folks want to put through."[8]
- Reverend Dr. Cassandra Gould, Director of Missouri Faith Voices, said, “In our minds, it's a new millennial poll tax. It is the return of the era of Jim and Jane Crow, and we're trying to make sure that that does not occur on our watch.”[15]
Campaign finance
One campaign committee was registered in support of Amendment 6, and one was registered in opposition as of December 14, 2016. The contribution and expenditure totals below were current of December 14, 2016.[13]
| Cash Contributions | In-Kind Contributions | Total Contributions | Cash Expenditures | Total Expenditures | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support | $1,025.00 | $2,529.93 | $3,554.93 | $867.82 | $3,397.75 |
| Oppose | $258,673.19 | $121,956.94 | $380,630.13 | $232,925.35 | $354,882.29 |
| Total | $259,698.19 | $124,486.87 | $384,185.06 | $233,793.17 | $358,280.04 |
Support
The following table includes contribution and expenditure totals for the committees in support of the measure.[13]
| Committees in support of Amendment 6 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Committee | Cash Contributions | In-Kind Contributions | Total Contributions | Cash Expenditures | Total Expenditures |
| Protect the Vote | $1,025.00 | $2,529.93 | $3,554.93 | $867.82 | $3,397.75 |
| Total | $1,025.00 | $2,529.93 | $3,554.93 | $867.82 | $3,397.75 |
Donors
The following were the top donors to the committee.[13]
| Donor | Cash Contributions | In-Kind Contributions | Total Contributions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashcroft for Missouri | $1,000.00 | $2,529.93 | $3,529.93 |
Opposition
The following table includes contribution and expenditure totals for the committees in opposition to the initiative.[13]
| Committees in opposition to Amendment 6 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Committee | Cash Contributions | In-Kind Contributions | Total Contributions | Cash Expenditures | Total Expenditures |
| Right to Vote | $258,673.19 | $121,956.94 | $380,630.13 | $232,925.35 | $354,882.29 |
| Total | $258,673.19 | $121,956.94 | $380,630.13 | $232,925.35 | $354,882.29 |
Donors
The following were the top donors to the committee.[13]
| Donor | Cash Contributions | In-Kind Contributions | Total Contributions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri National Education Association | $100,000.00 | $0.00 | $100,000.00 |
| AFSCME, AFL-CIO | $70,000.00 | $0.00 | $70,000.00 |
| SEIU MISSOURI/KANSAS STATE COUNCIL | $50,000.00 | $0.00 | $50,000.00 |
| MISSOURI JOBS WITH JUSTICE | $25,201.06 | $0.00 | $25,201.06 |
| Missouri Organizing and Voter Engagement Collaborative | $1,547.00 | $0.00 | $1,547.00 |
Methodology
To read Ballotpedia's methodology for covering ballot measure campaign finance information, click here.
Media editorials
Support
- St. Joseph News‑Press said: "While this measure might affect some groups more than others, all would have a simple path to proceed with voting. We also disagree with the notion that, because relatively few people are prosecuted for voter fraud, there is no benefit to be had from adding this requirement. As proponent Pat McCrory, governor of North Carolina, puts it: “If your house has never been broken into, do you still lock the door? The obvious answer is yes.”[16]
Opposition
- Hannibal Courier-Post said: “Quite the opposite, this amendment would create new challenges for people who don’t have the forms of identification spelled out. The last thing a constitutional amendment should do is disenfranchise voters.”[17]
- The Herald-Whig said: "Courts already have struck down many voter ID laws in other states, and it's unclear whether this measure would survive a court challenge, if approved. This measure appears to be politically motivated, and voters should reject it."[18]
- Joplin Globe said: "The only thing this amendment will be stopping is voters. An estimated 250,000 voters in Missouri don’t have government-issued photo identification. We recommend you consider a “no” vote on Amendment 6. Missouri does have its share of real problems. This doesn’t happen to be one of them."[19]
- The Kansas City Star said: "While billed as a move to prevent voter fraud, the measure would have the effect of disenfranchising seniors, minorities and persons with disabilities many of whom do not possess current photo IDs."[20]
- The St. Louis American said: "Voter photo ID is being presented as a solution where no problem exists. If passed with a simple majority, it would make it more difficult for some of our most vulnerable and transient citizens to vote, while doing nothing to prevent the types of voter fraud that do exist in Missouri, such as exploiting the absentee ballot privilege. We strongly recommend a vote of NO ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 6."[21]
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch said: "Many economists argue that consumption taxes are more rational than wealth taxes, which they claim sap incentive. Any debate over a more fair and rational tax system is worth having. But until that debate happens, voters should not foreclose their revenue options."[22]
Polls
- See also: 2016 ballot measure polls
- In late-October 2016, Mason-Dixon Polling & Research surveyed 625 voters and found 68 percent of respondents supporting Amendment 6.[23]
| Missouri Amendment 6 (2016) | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Support | Oppose | Undecided | Margin of error | Sample size | ||||||||||||||
| Mason-Dixon Polling & Research 10/24/2016 - 10/26/2016 | 68.0% | 30.0% | 2.0% | +/-4.0 | 625 | ||||||||||||||
| Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org. | |||||||||||||||||||
Background
| Voting on elections and campaigns | ||||
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| By state | ||||
| By year | ||||
| Not on ballot | ||||
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Voter identification
- See also: Voter identification laws by state
Thirty-five states require voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day. Of these states, 23 require voters to present identification containing a photograph, and 12 accept other forms of identification. The remaining 15 states do not require voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day.
Valid forms of identification differ by state. In certain states that require voters to provide identification, there may be exceptions that allow some voters to cast a ballot without providing an ID. To see more about these exceptions, see details by state. Commonly accepted forms of ID include driver's licenses, state-issued identification cards, and military identification cards.
Voters in Missouri must present identification at the polls. Valid forms of identification include the following: a driver's license or state-issued ID card, a U.S. passport ,or a copy of a utility bill, bank statement or paycheck.[24]
House Bill 1631
On January 12, 2016, the Missouri House Committee on Elections approved two bills "aimed at requiring government-issued photo identification to vote." In 2006, the Missouri Supreme Court found that an existing photo ID requirement violated the Missouri Constitution. The first of the two bills, House Joint Resolution 53, was drafted to ask voters to amend the state constitution to permit the enactment of a photo ID requirement. This bill became Amendment 6. The second measure, House Bill 1631, was drafted to provide the legal basis for that requirement if a constitutional amendment is approved. Under current Missouri law, a voter can use non-photo identification at the polls (e.g., bank statements and pay stubs) or a government-issued photo ID.[25][1][26]
On May 3, 2016, the Missouri Senate approved HB 1631 by a vote of 24-8. The next day, the Missouri House of Representatives approved the bill by a vote of 112-40.[25][26][27][28][29][30]
On July 7, 2016, Gov. Jay Nixon (D) vetoed House Bill 1631. In a statement to lawmakers, Nixon said, "Making voting more difficult for qualified voters and disenfranchising certain classes of people is wrong." Lawmakers, scheduled to reconvene in September 2016, may opt to override the veto, given the margins by which the bill originally passed. State Senator Senator Will Kraus (R) said, "I do not foresee many members switching their votes on this issue. Most legislators recognize this is a common-sense measure, and I believe voter ID will be brought up during the veto session."[31]
The Missouri House of Representatives overrode Nixon's veto of House Bill 1631 on September 14, 2016. On the same day, the Missouri Senate overrode the veto.[26][32]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Amending the Missouri Constitution
Either chamber of the Missouri General Assembly is allowed to propose an amendment. A majority of members of both chambers must approve it; if they do, the proposed amendment goes on a statewide election ballot for a popular vote of the people.
The bill was introduced by Rep. Tony Dugger (R-141).
The Missouri House of Representatives approved HJR 53 on January 21, 2016, with 116 representatives voting "yea" and 40 voting "nay." The Senate passed the bill on May 11, 2016, with 24 Senators voting "yea" and 8 voting "nay."[26]
House vote
January 21, 2016
| Missouri HJR 53 House Vote | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 116 | 74.36% | ||
| No | 40 | 25.64% | ||
Senate vote
May 11, 2016
| Missouri HJR 53 Senate Vote | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 24 | 75.00% | ||
| No | 8 | 25.00% | ||
State profile
| Demographic data for Missouri | ||
|---|---|---|
| Missouri | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 6,076,204 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 68,742 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 82.6% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 11.5% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 1.8% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.4% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 2.4% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 3.9% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 88.4% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 27.1% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $48,173 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 18.2% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Missouri. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
Presidential voting pattern
- See also: Presidential voting trends in Missouri
Missouri voted Republican in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
More Missouri coverage on Ballotpedia
- Elections in Missouri
- United States congressional delegations from Missouri
- Public policy in Missouri
- Endorsers in Missouri
- Missouri fact checks
- More...
Related measures
| Elections and campaigns measures on the ballot in 2016 | |
|---|---|
| State | Measures |
| Maine | Maine Ranked Choice Voting Initiative, Question 5
|
| South Dakota | South Dakota Nonpartisan Elections, Constitutional Amendment V |
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Missouri Amendment 6 2016 Voter. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Basic information
- House Joint Resolution 53
- 2016 Ballot Measures
- League of Women Voters of Missouri 2016 Ballot Issues Guide
Opposition
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Missouri House of Representatives, "HJR 53," accessed January 16, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Missouri Secretary of State, "2016 Ballot Measures," accessed August 12, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 4.0 4.1 St. Louis Public Radio, "Koster, Greitens oppose tobacco-tax proposals, but split on other ballot measures," October 24, 2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Ashcroft for Missouri, "Free & Fair Elections," accessed October 17, 2016
- ↑ Riverfront Times, "Rep. Tony Dugger On His Voter ID Bill: "Most Of The Feedback...Was On The Negative Side," February 4, 2013
- ↑ Protect Missouri Voters, "Homepage," accessed October 17, 2016
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 LakeExpo.com, "Groups opposing voter ID amendment team up to relay concerns to Missouri voters," October 12, 2016
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 The Atlantic, "The Show-Me-Your-Voter-ID State?" May 13, 2016
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Our Revolution, "Ballot Initiatives," accessed October 4, 2016
- ↑ The Missouri Times, "Opponents of Amendment 6 join forces to defeat photo voter ID," September 27, 2016
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 CBS St. Louis, "Clergy, Unions Oppose Amendment Six," October 15, 2016
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 Missouri Ethics Commission, "Ballot Measures," accessed December 14, 2016
- ↑ Boilermakers 83, "Missouri Voters: Amendments & Proposals," October 10, 2016
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Public News Service, "Advocates: Missourians' Voting Rights Threatened by Amendment 6," October 17, 2016
- ↑ St. Joseph News‑Press, "Voter photo ID is fair, justified," October 12, 2016
- ↑ Hannibal Courier-Post, “Courier-Post editorial: Amendments receive mixed reviews,” October 14, 2016
- ↑ Herald-Whig, "Only one Missouri ballot measure merits yes vote," October 26, 2016
- ↑ Joplin Globe, "Our view: 'No' on Amendment 6," October 30, 2016
- ↑ The Kansas City Star, "Reject higher Missouri cigarette taxes; approve campaign contribution limits," October 6, 2016
- ↑ The St. Louis American, "Vote NO on Amendment 6 and Amendment 3," October 19, 2016
- ↑ St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "Editorial: Yes, yes, yes. No, no. Yes, yes. Our recommendations on the Nov. 8 ballot measures," October 23, 2016
- ↑ St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "Poll shows Missouri voters not fired up about raising nation's lowest cigarette tax," October 29, 2016
- ↑ DMV.org, "Voter registration in Missouri," accessed June 10, 2014
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Missouri Lawyers Weekly, "Missouri voter photo ID measures pass House committees," January 13, 2016
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 Missouri House of Representatives, "HB 1631," accessed January 16, 2016
- ↑ Kansas City Star, "Missouri House Republicans advance voter ID bills over Democratic opposition," January 20, 2016
- ↑ St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "Voters will decide on voter photo ID this year," May 12, 2016
- ↑ Missourinet, "Missouri Gov. weighing voter photo ID: 'It is a concept I disagree with,'" May 19, 2016
- ↑ KSHB, "Missouri Governor Jay Nixon sets Nov. 8 election for voter ID ballot measure," May 23, 2016
- ↑ The Kansas City Star, "Missouri voter ID bill is vetoed by Gov. Jay Nixon," July 7, 2016
- ↑ St. Louis Dispatch, "Lawmakers override Nixon on guns and voter ID," September 14, 2016
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