FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Contact: Stacie Temple , (573) 526-0949

Carnahan clarifies ID requirements for Missouri

No change in acceptable identification from previous elections

Jefferson City, MO - Secretary of State Robin Carnahan today is reminding Missouri voters about the various types of identification they may use to cast a ballot on Election Day.

Recent debates in Missouri and around the country about new laws requiring voters to present specific forms of government-issued photo IDs in order to vote have created confusion for many Missouri voters.

To clarify the requirements for voters and those helping out at the polls, Secretary Carnahan’s office is offering a new online voter identification education kit available at www.GoVoteMissouri.com.

“It’s critical that all Missouri voters know what they need to cast a ballot on November 6,” said Carnahan. “In Missouri, ID requirements have not changed from prior elections; voters can bring one of several acceptable forms of identification to the polls such as a voter ID card, a Missouri student ID, a driver license or a current utility bill or bank statement with the voter’s name and address on it.”

Carnahan encourages voters to visit www.GoVoteMissouri.com for a complete list of acceptable identification plus examples. Registered voters need only to present one of several acceptable forms of identification to receive a ballot at the polls. Under Missouri law, acceptable voter identification includes:

• Identification issued by the state of Missouri, an agency of the state, or a local election authority of the state (including a Missouri driver license or a voter identification card)
• Identification issued by the United States government or agency thereof (including a U.S. passport)
• Identification issued by an institution of higher education, including a university, college, vocational and technical school, located within the state of Missouri
• A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check or other government document that contains the name and address of the voter
• Driver license or state identification card issued by another state

Additionally, if a voter does not possess any of these forms of identification, he or she may still cast a ballot if two supervising election judges, one from each major political party, attest in writing they personally know the individual.

Voters can also verify their registration, download a sample ballot and find their polling places at www.GoVoteMissouri.com.

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Visit www.sos.mo.gov to learn more about the Office of the Missouri Secretary of State.

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