Ashcroft on early & no-excuse absentee voting in Missouri

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft says Missouri’s system of early and no-excuse absentee voting works because photo identification is required at the polls. 

He told Newstalk KZRG he pushed for the requirement in 2022 when lawmakers passed an election overhaul that Governor Parson signed into law:   “You could not do that early voting in person without a photo ID. And if the courts changed the photo ID or weakened it or got rid of it then early voting would be thrown out.” 

Which is possible, as a Cole County judge is considering how to rule on a lawsuit that would scrap Missouri’s photo ID requirement for voting. 

Two earlier photo ID laws approved in years past were both declared unconstitutional by the Missouri Supreme Court.