Voter ID in Missouri

It is reported that Missouri has moved to implement a voter ID requirement in light of the Supreme Court's Crawford v. Marion County Election Bd. decision. A constitutional amendment facilitating (but not requiring) a statute requiring voter ID passed the Missouri House 86-69 (there are two vacancies and six members did not vote). There are 92 Republicans and 71 Democrats, according to WP; one of the absentees was a Democrat, which makes it all-but a party line vote. That, in turn, suggests that it will find fertile ground in the Missouri Senate, which is split 20-14 in favor of the GOP. The bill itself, H.J.Res. 48, provides that Article VIII of the Missouri Constitution will be amended by creating a Section 8 to read:

Any person who seeks to vote in a public election may be required by law to establish his or her qualifications as a United States citizen lawfully residing in this state by providing a form of identification to election officials. The form of identification required to vote may be prescribed by law, and persons may be required by law to provide a valid government-issued photo identification to vote. The state shall provide at least one form of the identification required to vote at no cost to any otherwise qualified citizen who does not already possess such identification and who desires the identification in order to vote.

Under Article XII of the Missouri Constitution, a majority of both houses may propose Constitutional amendment for the consideration of the electorate "for their approval or rejection ... on a separate ballot without party designation, at the next general election, or at a special election called by the governor prior thereto, at which he may submit any of the amendments."

Post facto:
Voter ID in Missouri, redux (5/12/08)