HB1878 will disproportionately impact people with intellectual and developmental disabilities

House Bill 1878 is currently headed to the Senate Floor for a vote. HB 1878 modifies provision for voter identification.

What Advocates Should Know:

There are a number of provisions in this bill that could disproportionately impact people with disabilities.

• Enshrines strict voter ID laws which would require people to cast a provisional ballot if they did not have one at the time of placing their vote. This leaves verification up the discretion of the Election Authority on whether to count that ballot significantly delaying the vote tabulation process, allowing for discretion from election authorities, and creating voter apprehension and potentially discouragement from casting a ballot.
• This would prohibit election authorities from receiving grants to expand their services. Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council (MODDC) has heard from our election authority friends and partners that often times limited funding prohibits their ability to do things like mail sample ballots, create additional signage, and add trainings for poll workers.
• It would prohibit anyone from being paid for voter registration work, impeding organizations whose staff do voter registration in their work.

This bill is currently moving quickly and headed to the Senate Floor. If this bill concerns you, you may contact your senator to educate on the importance of accessible voting.

Those interested in contacting their senator, can do so here: Legislator Lookup | Missouri Senate (mo.gov)

About MODDC

The Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council (MODDC) is a federally-funded, 23-member, consumer-driven council appointed by the Governor. Its mandate under P.L. 106-402, the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, is to assure that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families participate in the design of and have access to needed community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance that promote self-determination, independence, productivity and integration in all aspects of community life. To learn more or to get involved, visit www.moddcouncil.org.

Those interested in receiving advocacy updates like this one, can subscribe at moddcouncil.org.