Show-Me-State Republicans recently cleared a major hurdle in enacting a new voter identification law by Election Day, clearing out of committee a constitutional amendment that may wind up on a special election ballot by summer’s end.

The Columbia Daily Tribune reported on Monday that the Legislature has until Friday to approve the bill, which would then need to be signed by Gov. Matt Blunt (R) in time for a potential special election in August.

The recent GOP push is not the state’s first attempt to enact a law requiring voters to show identification at the polls. Missouri’s highest court threw out a similar requirement two years ago, but a Supreme Court decision late last month upheld Indiana’s voter ID law — potentially clearing a path for new legislation in the state and elsewhere.

— Matthew Murray