Missouri voters passed Amendment 6 Tuesday to become the eighth state to require a photo ID to vote.
Amendment 6, which requires voters to show a state, federal or military issued ID to cast a ballot, passed with 63 percent of the vote.
Supporters, including many state Republicans, say the rule prevents voter fraud, while opponents including many Democrats, the NAACP and labor unions say it suppresses votes from young people, seniors, people of color and those with disabilities among others.
Mike Louis, president of the Missouri AFL-CIO, says his group is working on an outreach plan to educate voters on ID requirements.
“We just want to make sure we don’t lose the possible 200,000 people who have their God given right to vote taken away because of poorly written legislation,” he says.
Louis says they plan to coordinate with other voter rights groups in the state to develop a clear strategy.
“We’ve got to come up with the messaging to make sure people who could fall through the cracks – (that we) at least take the time out to make sure they’ve got what they’re going to need,” he says.
This includes making sure all county clerks are on the same page in Missouri when it comes to following the new rule,” Louis says.
Those without a photo ID can still vote but have to sign an affidavit.