Missouri issues preliminary election plan

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Secretary of State Matt Blunt released a preliminary plan Monday he hopes will secure $76 million in federal funding to improve Missouri's election process.

Drafted by a 59-member committee created by Blunt, the plan is designed to help Missouri comply with requirements set out in the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002.

States have until Jan. 1 to show they have plans for using their share of $1.5 billion in election reform grants authorized earlier this year by Congress. Missouri could receive up to $76 million over four years in federal matching grants.

Missouri lawmakers passed legislation earlier this year to modernize the state's centralized voter database to bring it in line with federal law. The state legislation also includes measures intended to make polling places more accessible to the disabled.

State officials have said some federal requirements were satisfied by election changes signed into law last year, including the option of provisional ballots for voters whose eligibility is questioned.

Priority spending

The preliminary plan outlines how the state would use all $76 million of the federal funds, and the priority of the spending.

At the top is $10 million for the centralized voters database. Other priorities include $15 million for voting machines for the disabled, $2.5 million to educate poll workers and $1.5 million for voter education. About $7 million would be used to improve local election equipment.

"The state plan will serve as a roadmap for continued improvement of our election process in the days ahead," Blunt said in a statement. "I encourage all interested Missourians to review and comment on this important document."

Missourians can register their comments by e-mail or traditional mail through July 8. Copies of the preliminary plan also will be sent to all of Missouri's elections officials for a 30-day comment period.

Following the initial comment period, the plan will be posted in the Federal Register for 45 days, then will be submitted to the federal government for review.

Missouri cannot receive any money until its final plan is approved by the Election Assistance Commission, which was formed to help implement the Help America Vote Act.

Efforts to revise election laws nationwide began after snags in Florida temporarily cast doubt on the outcome of the 2000 presidential race.

Shortly after the 2000 elections in Missouri, Blunt issued a report concluding that court orders issued in the city and county of St. Louis improperly allowed 1,233 people to vote in the November elections.

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On the Net:

Secretary of State: http://www.sos.state.mo.us