NAACP rally at state capitol, oppose voter ID bill

NAACP Day was held at the Missouri state capitol Tuesday – an event where activists and state officials rally in support of the civil rights group and its agenda.

Hundreds gathered in Jefferson City to oppose the voter ID bill that is before the Missouri legislature.

Several executive branch members appeared at the rally. State Auditor Nicole Galloway, State Treasurer Clint Zweifel and Secretary of State Jason Kander, among others, joined the NAACP leadership to oppose the voter id bill.

The bill is being sponsored by Senator Will Kraus and would require Missourians to show a state or federal-issued photo ID before casting a vote. Supporters of the bill say it would go a long way to eliminate voter fraud.

The measure has received strong opposition of those who say it would make voting next to impossible for thousands of low-income citizens.

Secretary of State Kander says this bill could disenfranchise over 200,000 currently eligible Missouri voters. He said, “This law would disproportionately impact minorities and the poorest people in our state. I don’t understand why people want to move backwards on voting rights, but it’s not right, and we have to try to stop it.”

Other issues were brought up at the rally today, including the ban-the-box policy signed by Governor Nixon this week, as well as the requirement of police body cameras in Missouri’s major cities.

Under that law, those who can’t afford a state-issued ID would have to be identified by their signature to be to vote.