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PrintJEFFERSON CITY — The Department of Revenue is gearing up to begin trips around the state to help the elderly and disabled obtain state identification cards to vote, as required under a new state law.
The agency said Thursday it has five visits tentatively scheduled. The first is slated for Milan in a week. Others are planned in Bethany, Harrisonville, Mexico and north St. Louis.
The law requires all voters to present a photo ID from the Missouri or federal government to cast a ballot starting in November. Those who don’t already have a driver’s license or other acceptable ID can get a free card from the local license office. More than 500 people statewide have already done so.
The law also requires revenue officials to bring mobile units to nursing homes and other centers to get cards to the elderly and disabled. About 96 percent of adult Missourians already have a license or ID card, the department said.
Revenue officials want to be sure residents have all the necessary paperwork to obtain an ID card before the vans head out.
Under an earlier law, residents must prove they are lawfully in the country to obtain or renew a driver’s license or state ID card. That typically requires a birth certificate or passport and other documents.
Critics noted that while the law requires the photo ID card for voting to be free, the documents needed to obtain one are not, and for some there are other hidden costs, such as time off work or bus fare.
The department expects to be done visiting nursing homes and centers by mid-October.
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