Voter ID measure now heading to Gov. Nixon for approval

The Missouri Legislature has passed a requirement for voters to show photo identification. The House voted 112-38 Tuesday to send the legislation to Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon.

Under the measure, people without photo identification could cast a ballot after signing a statement saying they don’t have the required identification and can show some other form of identifying document. The bill also calls for the state to cover the cost of IDs for voters who do not have them.

The photo ID requirement will not go into effect unless voters approve a proposed constitutional amendment.

Missouri Republicans have sought to tighten voting requirements for a decade. The Missouri Supreme Court struck down a voter ID requirement in 2006, and Nixon vetoed another proposal in 2011.