Case Summary
LWVMO, the Missouri NAACP, and several individual plaintiffs filed a lawsuit in state court against new restrictions on acceptable voter ID for in-person voting. The League and its co-plaintiffs asserted the new provisions violated the Missouri Constitution’s guarantees of the fundamental right to vote and equal protection of the laws.
On June 29, 2022, Governor Mike Parsons signed HB 1878, a bill which made significant changes to the state’s elections. Among the provisions were increased restrictions on the types of ID acceptable for in-person voting.
Prior to HB 1878’s passage, Missouri voters voting in person had three options for acceptable voter ID. Voters could either present a photo ID, such as an unexpired Missouri driver’s license, alternative forms of ID (Missouri student ID, voter registration cards, utility or bank statements), or a provisional ballot. HB 1878 removed the option for alternative ID, meaning voters without current photo ID had no alternative but to cast a provisional ballot and return with acceptable ID on the same day, or allow election officials to rely on signature verification to count their ballot. Furthermore, under HB 1878, a voter voting with an in-person absentee ballot without a compliant ID could not cast a provisional ballot.
In response, on August 23, 2022, the League of Women Voters of Missouri (LWVMO), the Missouri State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and several individual Missouri voters with disabilities and/or difficulties obtaining compliant photo ID filed a lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Cole County, Missouri, asserting the new restrictions violated the Missouri constitution’s equal protection clause and its guarantee of the fundamental right to vote.
LWVMO is represented by ACLU Missouri and the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition.
LWV Timeline
Governor Mike Parsons signs HB 1878 into law
Republican Governor Mike Parsons signs HB 1878, a package of changes to elections, into law. Among other provisions, the bill reduces the options for acceptable voter ID when voting in person.
LWVMO files lawsuit
LWVMO and the Missouri NAACP file a lawsuit in the Cole County Circuit Court, asserting the new voter ID requirements violate the fundamental right to vote and equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the state constitution.
Court dismisses lawsuit
The court dismisses the lawsuit, stating the individual plaintiffs did not have standing, and that their asserted injuries are speculative. Furthermore, the court also rules LWVMO, and the Missouri NAACP had no standing to sue on behalf of its members in this case and were not injured by HB 1878.
LWVMO files amended complaint
The plaintiffs file an amended complaint, including additional information on the barriers faced by individual plaintiffs and LWVMO and Missouri NAACP members in obtaining compliant photo ID.
State court holds trial
The state trial court hears oral arguments on HB 1878's validity under state law.
Court upholds HB 1878
The court issues its final judgment, ruling that HB 1878 is constitutional under a 2016 state constitutional amendment authorizing voter ID requirements. The ruling also states the plaintiffs lack standing to challenge the law.
Plaintiffs appeal to Missouri Supreme Court
Plaintiffs appeal the trial court's verdict to the Missouri Supreme Court.
Plaintiffs file opening brief in state supreme court
The Missouri NAACP and LWVMO file their opening brief in the Missouri Supreme Court, arguing the trial court had erred in ruling the plaintiffs did not have standing and excluding certain testimony from plaintiffs' representatives at trial. The plaintiffs also argued the Missouri constitution's authorization of voter ID did not permit the provisions at issue and did not overrule other voting rights protections.
Missouri Supreme Court issues opinion
The Missouri Supreme Court affirms the trial court opinion, ruling none of the plaintiffs had legal standing to sue. The court also reverses the trial court's ruling on the merits, stating the case was resolved once the plaintiffs had no standing to sue.