AT BALLOT BOX: HAHS RETIRES AFTER 13 GENERAL ELECTIONS

JACKSON - The first time Betty Hahs worked an election as an employee of the Cape Girardeau County Clerk's office, Lyndon Johnson was president and Warren Hearnes was midway through his first term as governor.

Now, 26 years and 13 general elections later, Hahs has decided to call it quits. Today's election is the last one she will work as a deputy county clerk/elections supervisor.

"It's just time to retire and get out and enjoy life," said Hahs, who last year decided she would retire when she turns 65 at the end of this year.

Hahs discussed her long tenure in the clerk's office Monday while she answered frequent phone calls from election judges, citizens checking their registration status and voters inquiring about their proper polling place.

"This is the most hectic election I've been through for years," she remarked between calls. "I don't know how we're going to handle it all tomorrow."

Hahs said the election this year has been characterized by an increase in voter registration and absentee balloting. "But there's nothing like retiring and going out with a bang," she quipped.

General elections, held every two years, aren't the only time Hahs is busy. She also has had to work numerous statewide primary elections in general election years, spring city and school elections, and many other special elections.

County Clerk Rodney Miller estimated that during her career, Hahs likely has had a hand in 100 elections, an indication of the tremendous amount of integrity and responsibility exhibited by his deputy.

"She has meant a lot to the integrity of elections around the county," Miller said. "She's a dedicated public servant, and the people have gotten their money's worth.

"She was hired to work for me, but really she is working for the people of this county, and they ought to be proud of the job she has done."

Hahs first came to work in the clerk's office on Sept. 15, 1965 when then County Clerk Rusby Crites hired her as a deputy voter registration clerk. She assisted Rada Lou Kamp.

"I guess my biggest experience was as registration clerk," recalled Hahs, who explained that she was hired after statewide voter registration was required. "We had to go out and register people all over Cape County."

Hahs said she registered people at gas stations, grocery stores, churches, and just about anywhere people gathered. "That was really quite an experience I'll never forget," she added.

Over the years, Hahs has seen major changes in the state's election laws, including minor and major revisions in most laws.

"Betty has been able to adapt and move through each change and has been very professional in her work," said Miller.

One of the biggest changes Hahs has seen was the transition from paper ballots to punch card voting.

"When we had paper ballots, poll workers brought in cloth bags full of them that were so heavy we could hardly lift them," said Hahs. "This is much simpler."

The punch card system also is much faster. In contrast, Hahs said that one year they were in the courthouse until 4:30 a.m. compiling results, only to return to the office 3 hours later.

In the days of paper ballots, a large tally sheet was placed on the wall of the courthouse and Crites would read the results over a public address system as they came in from each precinct.

Now, computer printouts complete with composite totals are posted on a bulletin board as they come in.

"That old way was kind of exciting," Hahs confessed.

Even after he retired in 1978, Crites could always be found at the courthouse on election night.

But, Hahs and Miller noted with sadness Monday, Crites won't be around this election night. He died earlier this year.

Miller said having the experience of Crites, Hahs, and Deputy Clerk Judy Beussink, who was hired one week before Hahs, has made a big difference to him.

"I was lucky at that particular time because they had a great expertise about the office and were able to direct me in the right way," said Miller. "I was also fortunate to have a great teacher with Rusby Crites."

Hahs has a wide range of responsibilities associated with elections that include gathering supplies for 38 voting precincts, processing and printing absentee ballots, preparing ballot sign-out sheets and different-colored ballots for precincts that have more than one entity, overseeing campaign finance disclosure reports, and securing poll workers.

Sometimes getting poll workers is a difficult task, especially now that many women work or are at home with small children.

"The frustrating part is the last few days when people can't work," said Hahs, who has been forced to find workers the night before and even the morning of an election.

Once the election is over, Hahs is responsible for seeing that all election bills are paid and that the results are properly filed.

Hahs has mixed emotions about leaving the clerk's office, but is too busy to think much about this being her final election day.

"I'll miss being around the people," said Hahs, "and I'm sure I'll miss it when the next election time comes around."