Secretary of state candidates differ on election issues

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Differences over voting requirements and ballot summaries for initiatives that appear before voters are playing a significant role in the campaign for the Missouri post responsible for overseeing elections.

Republican Shane Schoeller and Democrat Jason Kander are at odds over Missouri's voter photo identification proposals and whether a new panel should have sway over the ballot summaries that the secretary of state prepares for initiatives. Those are two of the biggest differences as the two House colleagues compete to succeed Democratic Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, who is not seeking a third term.

Debate has persisted for years about whether voters should be required to show a government-issued photo ID at the polls. The Republican-led Legislature has pushed the idea while Democrats generally have opposed it. Currently, Missourians can show a driver's license or other government-issued photo ID, but state law also allows voters to provide documents that do not contain photographs, such as copies of utility bills or bank statements listing their names and addresses.

Schoeller contends that Missourians want more stringent identification requirements and has made a photo ID law a hallmark of his campaign. He contends Missouri elections currently are exposed to voter fraud that dilutes legitimate votes.

"I want to make sure every vote is respected, because on the day of the election you want to give the voter every confidence that every measure has been taken in order to make sure that the outcome of that election is exactly how the voters voted," he said.

Kander has called recent photo ID legislation "extreme and unfair," saying the proposed restrictions on what constitutes a valid ID would exclude military identification. As an alternative to what has been suggested in Missouri, he points to Idaho where voters who do not bring a required photo ID can sign a sworn affidavit and cast a standard ballot.

Kander also supports an early voting period that would allow Missourians to cast ballots before Election Day without needing to be incapacitated or traveling, as is currently required to vote by absentee ballot.

Besides voting, Schoeller has suggested changes to the ballot summaries for initiatives appearing before voters. He wants to establish a new commission -- comprised of people selected by legislative leaders -- with the authority to consider complaints about the fairness and accuracy of the summaries written by the secretary of state.