COOK LIKES NEW MOTOR VOTER LAW

Missouri Secretary of State Bekki Cook said the motor voter law is a success, despite the initial apprehension of county election officials.

The law, which took effect Jan. 1, allows voter registration at state agencies.

"I have been pleased," said Cook~, who met with the county clerks days before the law took effect.

Although county clerks were upset with the law, Cook claims most now say it has been a good measure that is beneficial to Missouri residents.

"I think they are coming around, and it's not going to be as bad as predicted," she said.

Complaints against the law mostly derive from the added labor and time involved with the process.

"Anytime you're going to register a large number of people, there's going to be an expense associated with it," Cook said. "It seems to be more of an irritant with the additional costs, like postage and paper and some staff time."

A centralized data system is planned to secure the state's voter registration lists from fraud, Cook said.

"The voter registration lists will be available statewide from our office," she added. "On election night, you could go to one place and get all the returns."

Fourteen Missouri counties still use pencil and paper to collect voter lists, but the state is looking at ways to bring those areas up to the technology level of the remainder of the state.

Cook said she will initiate projects to help get people to vote with the easier registration. "We have to tell people it's their chance to participate in our democracy," she said.