Voter advocates vow to continue fighting Missouri photo ID law

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A representative for Missouri Voter Protection Coalition and the ACLU said they will not back down after a judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging Missouri's new voter identification law.

Cole County Judge Jon E. Beetmen dismissed the cases filed by the NAACP and Missouri League of Women Voters on Wednesday. Both groups filed lawsuits in August to block the state's new voter ID Law.

The judge struck down the lawsuit for a lack of evidence that anyone would be harmed by the law. Denise Lieberman, director and general counsel for MOVPC, said this is just a procedural ruling.

"We all recognize that this a procedural pit stop on the way to having the Missouri Supreme Court decide the issue as they have twice stricken down less restrictive requirements," Lieberman said.

Lieberman said the voter ID law disenfranchises several groups: People of color, people with disabilities, rural Missourians, students, seniors and anyone on a limited income. The groups that filed the lawsuit plan to continue to pursue legal action against the law.

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft celebrated the dismissal.

“I applaud and agree with the court’s decision to dismiss this lawsuit since not even the plaintiffs could find a single individual who would be prevented from voting," Ashcroft said. "Missouri elections will continue to be safe, secure, and accurate as we prepare for November."

The lawsuits asked for a judge to block the state's law because it prevents disadvantaged people from voting, according to the organizations. Both groups shared concerns the new law may prevent voters with spelling errors on their IDs or issues with their signatures from casting a provisional ballot.

Members of the NAACP and the Missouri League of Women Voters have 30 days to appeal the judgment.