JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Legislature approved a measure on Wednesday that would ask the voters to allow for a period of early voting in their elections.

Unlike a Democratic-led ballot measure that would allow early voting during non-business hours and on weekends, the Republican plan would only allow a six-day early voting period during business hours during the six days prior to the Wednesday before Election Day.

The legislation avoided a Democratic filibuster in the Senate on Monday night as part of a deal to prevent the Republican-controlled chamber from passing legislation aiming to restrict the political activity of public labor unions and a measure that would require voters to present photo identification at the polls.

Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon can ultimately decide whether the legislature’s early voting proposal would go on the August or November ballot. The initiative petition would likely go on the November ballot, meaning the two measures could possible compete.

The bill passed the Senate on party lines. The vote in the House is as follows: