Senate Leaders Respond to Governor’s Veto of Law that Would Have Protected the Integrity of Elections

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Senate Leaders Respond to Governor’s Veto of Law that Would Have Protected the Integrity of Elections

JEFFERSON CITY – Senate leaders are responding to the governor’s veto of House Bill 1631. The measure would have required voters to provide a valid photo ID at the polls. Even if the Legislature overrides the governor’s veto, the bill will not go into effect unless Missouri voters approve Amendment Six (House Joint Resolution 53) on this November’s ballot. Senate leaders said this unfortunate veto is a minor setback.

“The Senate has not only spent hours but years working with both sides to make sure this bill was a good balance of protecting the fairness of Missouri elections while making sure no voter is disenfranchised. I expect the Senate will be able to easily override this veto, and this action only makes it more important for people to get out and vote in November and show their support for voter ID.”

Senate Leader Ron Richard, R-Joplin

“I believe voting is one of our most important rights and duties. Currently there is no way to detect voter impersonation fraud when it happens. This common-sense requirement would have protected the integrity and fairness of our election process in Missouri while still making it easy for Missourians to cast their ballot.”

Bill Handler, Sen. Will Kraus, R-Lee’s Summit

“This issue has been a priority since my first day in the Senate. The governor has vetoed a bill that was the product of hundreds of hours of bi-partisan negotiations and discussions for purely political reasons. The governor knows full well that the majority of Missourians support showing an ID when voting to protect the integrity of the election system. This is yet another example of why elections matter and how critical it is for Missouri to gain new leadership in the governor’s office.”

Majority Floor Leader Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City

The Senate will convene again for the annual veto session on Sept. 14, 2016. At that time, a final decision whether to override the governor’s veto will be made. For more on these measures and others, visit www.senate.mo.gov.

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Lauren Hieger, Senate Majority Caucus Communications Director

(573) 751-7266 – lauren.hieger@senate.mo.gov