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In a significant legal victory for election security advocates, a Missouri court upheld the state’s voter ID law on Monday, ruling in favor of Attorney General Andrew Bailey. This decision marks another setback for activists challenging voting requirements in the Show Me State.
Missouri’s political landscape has shifted increasingly conservative in recent years, evidenced by Trump’s substantial victory margin of 18 points in the last election, securing 58.4% of votes compared to Kamala Harris’s 40%.
Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem in a comprehensive 39-page decision, rejected claims brought against the Republican-supported legislation. This law, enacted two years ago with Governor Mike Parson’s approval, requires voters to present photo identification at polling locations.
In his ruling, Judge Beetem determined that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate any infringement on their voting rights. This verdict follows a previous dismissal of the same case, even after amendments and a full trial. While this particular challenge has been resolved, a separate lawsuit addressing other aspects of the measure remains pending.
Notably, AG Bailey’s legal involvement extends beyond election law, as he currently represents Jim Hoft from The Gateway Pundit and several prominent doctors in the ongoing Murthy vs. Missouri free speech lawsuit.
