Election laws may get more reforms in state

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Secretary of State Matt Blunt said the new state elections law intended to combat voter fraud while increasing accessibility worked well during its first test this month. However, he plans to urge lawmakers to consider additional changes, including early voting, in the upcoming legislative session.

"It was a step in the right direction," Blunt said. "I still think there are things that need to be done. We need to make our ballot more accessible than it is."

Blunt made his comments after officially certifying the results of the Nov. 5 statewide elections.

A key component of the bipartisan bill signed into law by Gov. Bob Holden this year authorized provisional voting, which allows a prospective voter whose registration is in doubt to cast a ballot that is counted later if the voter's legal status is verified.

Some election officials expressed concern that a large number of provisional ballots could delay results in some races. However, Blunt said the new system worked. Only 3,603 provisional ballots were cast statewide. Of those, 2,007, or 56 percent, were later ruled valid.

Blunt said those who cast provisional ballots but were found not to be registered will be automatically registered for the next election.

The next step to improving voter participation, Blunt said, is to take a look at early voting, which allows ballots to be cast prior to Election Day. Kansas and Texas are among the states that allow early voting.

"States that have a more conservative political tradition than Missouri have been able to adopt that with success," Blunt said. "Voting is a responsibility but people in government, local election authorities have a responsibility to try and make the ballot as accessible as possible and make it as easy as possible for people to exercise that right."

An early voting provision was included in the original elections bill introduced in the General Assembly this year. State Rep. Jim Seigfreid, D-Marshall, said the section was pulled due to concerns it would be too costly at a time when the state is holding the line on added expenses. Seigfreid was the lead House sponsor of the bill.

The actual cost of early voting is unknown. The new law instructs local election officials to submit early voting plans to the secretary of state. When that process is completed, Seigfreid said, lawmakers will have a better idea of whether the state can afford to implement it.

"I still feel it is it certainly something we ought to do," Seigfreid said.

A new federal elections law enacted this year included a number of mandates for states. Seigfreid said Missouri already addressed most of the federal requirements, including provisional balloting and requiring voters to present identification, in the recent state legislation.

"I think we're in pretty good shape," Seigfreid said. "We knew that was going to come about and prepared well for it."

Blunt said his staff is reviewing the massive federal legislation but predicted some technical changes to state law may be needed so Missouri can qualify for federal funds to upgrade voting machines and purchase technology to better review and update voter rolls.

Determining what type of machines would be best to replace outmoded punch-card and lever systems will be an important task for lawmakers and election officials, Blunt said.

"If we're going to make this transition -- make this leap -- it ought to be a meaningful one," Blunt said. "The last thing we want to do is buy election equipment that in 10 or 15 years seems just as archaic as what we have now. We want to buy equipment that in two or three or four decades you're still using with confidence."

mpowers@semissourian.com

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