Missouri: state court considers voter I.D.; new suit filed in federal court
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports: A state judge said Wednesday that Missouri's photo identification law would impose extra costs on some voters, particularly women who have changed their names and must prove their identities.
But the judge, Cole County Circuit Judge Richard Callahan, also declared that he was "just not convinced" that the Legislature purposefully discriminated against certain groups such as African-Americans by requiring the IDs to vote.
Callahan's comments came as he grappled with points raised by attorneys challenging and defending the law. The judge promised to issue a ruling no later than Sept. 15.
Whatever he decides is likely to be appealed to the Missouri Supreme Court. But even that court's decision won't be the final word.
Another attack on the law emerged Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Jefferson City. The NAACP and several groups that help people with disabilities filed a federal suit on behalf of people who say they will be disenfranchised by the voting requirements. -- STLtoday - News - Story