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Missouri voter photo ID measures head to House floor

Two measures requiring a photo ID to vote are heading to the floor of the Missouri House of Representatives.

A House committee on Thursday approved a bill and a proposed constitutional amendment tightening the requirements to vote, two days after another committee endorsed them. Republicans on both committees prevailed on straight party-line votes.

The constitutional amendment would require voter approval. The Missouri Supreme Court ruled in 2006 that requiring a photo ID to vote was unconstitutional.

Photo ID requirements wouldn't go into effect unless the state sets aside money to pay for the documents required for an ID, such as a person's birth certificate. That could cost as much as $17 million over the next three fiscal years.

Republicans say they hope to vote on the measures next week.

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