JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri Secretary Ashcroft said he was pleased with the court’s decision Thursday to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Missouri NAACP and the League of Women Voters that challenged the photo identification aspects of Missouri’s new election law, HB 1878.
Judge Jon E. Beetem of the Circuit Court of Cole County granted the motion to dismiss stating “conspicuously absent [from this lawsuit] is any specific factual allegation about any specific human being who is a member of NAACP or LMV and who will be harmed by the photo ID requirement.”
The court further stated the NAACP and LWV “also fail to allege facts to support organizational standing based on proprietary interests.”
“Voting is the foundation of our country,” Ashcroft said. “It is not only our right but also our responsibility. Rather than restrict, we believe HB 1878 makes it easier to vote but harder to cheat.”
“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. Missouri elections will continue to be safe, secure, and accurate as we prepare for November,” stated Ashcroft.
As the November election is days away, Secretary Ashcroft would ask voters to self-educate on all ballot measures to make informed decisions at the ballot box. More information, including acceptable forms of ID can be found at GoVoteMissouri.com.