What’s in your wallet? Missouri voter ID law won’t accept out-of-state licenses

BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. (KCTV) – A lot of Missourians are eager to cast their ballot before Election Day, but they’ll be sent packing if they have an out-of-state ID.

Missouri’s stricter voter ID law went into effect in August of 2022, so this isn’t the first election since then, but it is the first presidential election with the tougher restrictions in place.

If you’re registered to vote in Missouri but haven’t yet obtained a Missouri driver or non-driver license, you have a few options.

• Cast a provisional ballot: You will have to wait until Election Day to do that. Provisional ballots are not available during early voting, known officially in Missouri as no-excuse absentee voting.
• Bring a non-expired United States passport, military or veteran’s ID card.
• Go to the DMV to get your license now. It’s not too late.

“The paper copy they give you when you go to renew works,” said Jackson County Election Board Republican Director Tammy Brown. “That is an official ID for voting.”

A more detailed list of what is accepted can be found on the Missouri Secretary of State’s website. If you have the right ID but it is expired, there is a grace period.

“If it expired after the November 8, 2022 election, they can use it,” Brown clarified. “Out of state, absolutely not.”

Those rules apply to all cities and counties.

LONG LINES TO VOTE EARLY

No-excuse absentee voting is also rather new. It was initially created to accommodate voters during the COVID pandemic.

At the Fleming Meeting Hall polling place in Blue Springs on Tuesday, people stood in a line that snaked around the corner. There were two portable toilets to accommodate the wait.

Cedric Lyles, who came from Raytown, said it took him about 2 1/2 hours to get inside to cast his ballot.

“It was either that or wait until another day and it get longer,” Lyles said. “So, it seemed like it was the lesser of two evils.”

Most people seemed cheerful as the wind kicked dust into their eyes from the makeshift parking area next to the small Parks Department building. Some read books. Others chatted with their fellow election enthusiasts. Dan Wasson came from Lee’s Summit.

“We went by the Ranger Rec (building in Lee’s Summit) Friday, and the line was twice as long,” Wasson said. “We came out here, and this isn’t really bad.”

Wasson stayed comfortable in a camp chair, with snacks in hand, then got up to scoot it forward every five minutes or so, joking with the couple behind him in rocking camp chairs.

Brown said she’d never seen anything like it.

“This is amazing. It’s just amazing. The turnout and the passion and how kind people have been to each other in line,” Brown said. “We’ve had people order pizza and put it in line. We’ve had people bring water and drop cases of water off along the line.”

She said voters have done their homework. Many of them are showing up with sample ballots in hand, marked with their choices so they cast their ballots quickly.

SHOULD YOU WAIT?

It’s a gamble on Election Day, especially for those who have jobs to get to. However, the lines seem at advance voting locations don’t always translate to Election Day.

The Jackson County Election Board oversees voting in parts of the county that are not Kansas City. They have only two locations open prior to Election Day with a third available on Saturday. They will have more than 100 polling locations on Election Day itself. Brown predicts a large turnout but says the wait will likely vary by location.

The Kansas City Board of Election Commissioners handles voter rolls in only the Jackson County portion of Kansas City proper. They have seven locations for no-excuse absentee voting.

The Clay County Election Board has three locations open for early voting in Gladstone, Liberty and Kearney.

The Platte County Board of Elections has early voting available at its office in Platte City.

Cass County offers early voting at the county clerk’s office in Harrisonville from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and will be open on Saturday from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

KANSAS VOTER ID LAW

The voter ID law in Kansas is less strict with far more photo ID options allowed. Out-of-state driver’s licenses are accepted in addition to a college student ID card and a government-issued public assistance card to name just a few.

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