Missouri Secretary of State visits Nevada

Jay Ashcroft, Missouri’s Secretary of State spoke about Missouri’s new voter photo ID law which took effect June 1. The secretary spoke at the Franklin P. Norman City/County Community Center.

Eleven months ago he was a candidate, while on Tuesday, Jay Ashcroft, returned to Nevada as Missouri’s Secretary of State, speaking to 30 people, Tuesday afternoon at the Franklin P. Norman City/County Community Center.

Ashcroft’s visit here was one of 50 stops the secretary will make on a multi-week tour of the state as he publicizes the new voter identification rules as adopted last fall by Missouri voters.

Opening his presentation, Ashcroft said, “If you get only one message from my time with you today, understand this. Come election day, if you are registered to vote, you can vote.”

Missouri’s new photo ID law took effect June 1 and, for the first time, will be applied locally during the Aug. 8 special election for board members to Consolidated Public Water Supply District No. 1.

Standing next to a large flow chart, Ashcroft read. “First, are you a registered voter? If so, you can vote. If not, you have until July 12 to get registered.”

The secretary motioned to Vernon County’s clerk, Mike Buehler, telling those present to see him and get registered.

Continuing, Ashcroft read, “Do you have a valid, government-issued photo ID? If so, show it and proceed to vote.”

If a voter does not possess a photo ID, the chart displayed two other ways for a person to vote. The first listed nine other acceptable forms of identification ranging from a voter ID card, college ID and a current utility bill.

If you can produce one of these, you will be asked to sign a statement and then you can vote, said Ashcroft.

Finally came what the secretary called the “swimmer’s option.”

“If you’ve been at the pool on election day and head to the polls in your towel and flip-flops, if you are a registered voter, you too will be able to vote,” said Ashcroft. “You’ll sign a statement, receive a provisional ballot and you can vote. If your information and signature match local records, your vote will be counted.”

Patricia Pike, State Rep., District 126, who welcomed and introduced the secretary to the group, raised her hand.

“Some apartments have multiple occupants but only one name is on the bill,” said Pike. “Is such a utility bill an acceptable form of identification?”

Said the secretary, “Only for the person whose name is listed on the bill. And if it says ‘Occupants,’ and the address, that would not be acceptable to use by anyone in that apartment.”

Turning to the law’s provision for those without a photo ID Ashcroft said, “By statute and through funds appropriated by the legislature, my office wants to help all those without a photo ID to obtain one at no cost and, as part of getting that ID, the state will also pay for obtaining any necessary underlying documents such as a birth certificate. Just call our toll-free hotline at (866) 868-3245 and we will help you, even if you were born in another state.”

Asked if this was going to be a part of the new Real ID option for Missourians the Secretary concluded by saying, “That is completely separate. It will likely take two years for the Missouri Department of Revenue to have the design and procedures in place for that while the ‘ShowIt2Vote’ photo ID law came into force June 1.”