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Voter Registration and REAL ID Deadline Updates As many of you know, there is an election coming up on Nov. 6. This general election will give Missourians the opportunity to choose who will represent them in Washington D.C., the State Capitol in Jefferson City and a host of local and county offices. Missourians will also decide for themselves whether several ballot initiatives will become law. If you are not already a registered voter, you must register to vote by Oct. 10 in order to vote in the November election. As the Oct. 10 deadline approaches, there are several registration options available for Missourians who have not previously registered but are interested in voting on Nov. 6. The Missouri secretary of state’s website provides both digital and printable forms of the required voter registration paperwork. This and other information about registering to vote can be found by visiting www.sos.mo.gov/elections/govotemissouri/register. Additionally, Missourians can register to vote in person at their local election authority, a driver’s licensing office while applying or renewing their license or even a library. Regardless of political affiliation, I encourage all eligible Missourians to register to vote and just as importantly, to exercise that right on Election Day. I truly believe voting is one of the most important activities citizens are called on to do, and that this responsibility should not be taken lightly or ignored. Citizens who vote are exercising their right to be heard and are fulfilling the important principle of self-determination, something generations of Americans have fought and died for. In a world where not everyone is allowed a voice in how their government operates, I believe it is vital for citizens to exercise their right to vote and to embrace it wholeheartedly. At the end of the day, it is voters who decide elections in this country, and that is truly a beautiful thing. In other news, there has been another development regarding Missouri’s implementation of the REAL ID Act. The Missouri Department of Revenue announced on Oct. 1 that Missouri has received an extension for the implementation of REAL ID through Aug. 1, 2019. This means that federal agencies will continue to accept current state-issued licenses for air travel and access to federal facilities, such as military bases. While Missouri has received an extension through August of next year, the Department of Revenue expects to bring the state into full compliance with the REAL ID Act by March of 2019 and begin issuing compliant IDs. As always, I appreciate hearing your comments, opinions and concerns. During the interim, please feel free to contact me in email me at mike.cierpiot@senate.mo.gov. |