By Marshall Griffin, St. Louis Public Radio
Jefferson City, Mo. – Legislation that would authorize early voting in Missouri and require voters to show photo identification at the polls is likely dead for the year.
The resolution is sitting in a Missouri Senate committee, which met Wednesday night without taking it up for a vote. State Senator Chuck Purgason (R, Caulfield) chairs the committee.
"I think that the bill was going to be filibustered quite heavily by opponents from both sides, and there was no consensus on it, so we just didn't move forward with it," Purgason said. "It's never dead until 6:00 (p.m.) on Friday, but at this time I think it's on life support."
Secretary of State Robin Carnahan has championed early voting, but her office is opposing the resolution because of the photo I.D. requirement. And county elections officials view the early voting provision as an unfunded mandate.
Both Carnahan and Purgason are running for the U.S. Senate this year.