DNC Chairman Howard Dean Denounces Harmful Republican Voter ID Law in Missouri

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement in response to Republicans pushing restrictive voter ID measures in Missouri:

"Once again Republicans have succeeded in their efforts to disenfranchise lawful voters. This time Republicans in Missouri have enacted a restrictive law that would require eligible voters to present a state issued photo ID when going to the polls to vote. Current law allows voters to present other forms of ID including utility bills, bank statements, or a paycheck. To justify these restrictive measures, Republicans are falsely claiming that voter fraud continues to be a big problem.

"This law is so restrictive that eligible voters will be denied access to the polls even if they present a voter registration card. To make matters worse voter ID laws also disproportionately affect rural voters, seniors, minorities, disabled voters and young people who often have a harder time obtaining a state issued photo identification.

"Democrats believe that we should be making it easier not harder for all Americans to exercise the right to vote. For years voters have gone to the polls and voted without photo ID and there has been no evidence of wide-spread voter fraud. Instead of working to disenfranchise legally eligible voters Republicans should join Democrats in expanding and protecting the rights of all Americans to vote."