COOK SCHEDULES CAPE MEETING

Missourians will have a chance to tell Secretary of State Bekki Cook how to improve election procedures and increase voter turnout at a series of town hall meetings.

The first meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Monday at the University Center Party Room in Cape Girardeau.

Besides Cape Girardeau, meetings are scheduled during March and April in St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Kirksville and Columbia. Meetings also may be held in other cities.

"I want to hear ideas and concerns from citizens all across this state about our elections process and how we can increase turnout and help voters go to the polls better informed about candidates and the issues," she said.

Cook said she wants to hear from Missourians about whether the state should scrap the party caucus system and hold a presidential primary.

Other topics include voting by mail and allowing an open primary where voters weren't restricted to voting a single-party ballot.

The idea of a presidential primary was an issue in Cook's election campaign last fall.

"We were asked about it quite a bit," said Jim Grebing, Cook's communications director. "I don't know if there is a big groundswell for this."

Grebing said Cook likely would push for a presidential primary if the public wants it.

About 65 percent of Missouri's voters went to the polls last November, but Grebing said Cook wants to encourage even larger voter turnouts.

Cook said she wants to hear what election-law changes Missourians want.

The secretary of state came under fire from Republicans last year over her interpretation of election filing laws after the death of U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson.

Each town hall meeting will be divided into two segments, with the first session being an informational one.

Cook will lead a discussion and take comments from the audience during the second part of the meeting.