BLUNT CALLS FOR UNIFORM VOTING PLAN ACROSS STATE

Missouri Secretary of State Matt Blunt ignored the recommendation of his own bipartisan elections commission in suggesting the state adopt a single voting system for use in all counties.

He also wants Congress to move Veterans Day to coincide with the November general election and, in effect, turn election day into a national holiday.

That also wasn't recommended by Blunt's elections commission, said Perry County Clerk Randy Taylor.

Taylor and other election officials around the state served on the commission.

The commission recommended the state continue to leave it up to local election authorities to select the voting systems they want, Taylor said Tuesday.

Blunt said this week that a standardized system could be as many as three years down the road and could cost $100 million.

Cape Girardeau County Clerk Rodney Miller doesn't think the state can afford it. He worries that county governments and local taxpayers will be saddled with the cost of implementing an expensive voting system.

"We are talking millions of dollars," he said. "The state can't pay for it."

Said Miller, "I don't see how you can have a uniform system statewide."

But Jackson said Blunt wants the state to look at "a more modern method of voting that is economical and that is efficient."

Jackson said one possibility would be a touch-screen voting system. But Taylor said it would cost $300,000 to implement such a system in Perry County, which currently uses a punch card system.

Blunt also wants lawmakers to consider allowing early balloting for 11 days in advance of primary and general elections.

That could make it easier for some Missourians to vote, Blunt has said.

Miller said it would mean added election costs because additional election judges would be needed to handle the workload.

As for the idea of making the November election a national holiday, Jackson said it would stress the importance of election day.