Registration and Casting Ballots

Missouri Voter Registration and Casting Ballots

Part One--Some Criticism and Ideas for Improvement

VOTER REGISTRATION

Missouri voter registration may actually be better than most states, however, problems continue to exist. Speaking from personal experience and additional research, I know this includes dead persons remaining on the rolls (my own mother was sent a voter registration card 3 years after her death); those moving continuing to appear as registered in more than one place, (I was sent voter registration cards from two separate counties in 1998); identification not always being required (this is commonplace where the poll workers think they know everyone); some felons continuing to vote; and some of those properly registered being denied a ballot for various reasons.

In 1996, U.S. Senator Ashcroft alleged there were more people registered to vote in certain counties of Missouri than there were people of voting age. Like most "Ashcrock" agenda there wasn't much followup nor facts presented to support such remarks, but certainly the issue was one that needed investigated. Of course, some election authorities took issue with the statement. There were also reports in the 1996 Missouri primary that block voting by illegal aliens,who had been registered in Jackson County. One candidate for sheriff in Jackson County alleged he was promised a position on the legislature for not following through with a complaint about the illegal aliens block voting.

SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT

Missouri needs a total cleansing of the voter registration rolls. Although the laws we already have should in the least be keeping the deceased, those who move, and felons off the lists, far too many of those not eligible to vote remain registered and obviously some of them vote or someone votes in that name.

The Missouri Secretary of State needs to insist all the laws and CSRs be followed, including the monthly check of those deceased (which would be better done weekly or daily), check of list of those convicted of felonies (there needs to be better reporting system for state felonies especially), and a check of all utility moves and name changes needs to be added to the law and required done weekly or daily by the election authorities.

MOTOR VOTER AND MAIL IN REGISTRATION

A lot has been said by numerous people of the pros and cons of motor voter, mail in voting registration. The worst problem I have seen with motor voter and/or mail in voter registration is some people not being allowed to vote although they sent in their form and thought they had registered. In 1998 I believe some election authorities actually held back allowing some qualified voters to finish their registration process as a means of improperly influencing votes.

Another problem is some election authorities appear to be modifying the voter registration forms.

SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT

The public needs to be better educated as to the motor voter, mail in registration process and assisted with understanding they do need to complete the registration process by a personal appearance and take an oath.

Election authorities need to be required to submit a list of the names and identification of all those registering through motor voter or other mail in, to the secretary of state's office monthly and up to the ending of the time permitted for registration. Perhaps a list of new registrants could be published as a reminder for people to check with the election authority if their name does not appear after they think they have registered. The public needs to be made aware if they are turned away from the polls they can call an 800# immediately and should also have some recourse specified by law if denied the opportunity to vote, when qualified and properly registered.

CASTING BALLOTS

Once a voter is registered many do not vote. This I believe is due, in part, because the process of casting a ballot is not simple enough. Problems include confusion over where polling places are. Candidates and voters alike should not have to jump through a series of frustrating hoops to find out where a voter is to vote. Election authorities should forfeit office, be fined heavily, and serve jail time for changing polling places and not giving proper notice to all voters involved.

Election authorities should also be reminded they cannot reapportion any congressional or state legislative districts. (In 1998 Greene County Clerk, Struckhoff, had the audacity to thumb his nose at the law and reapportioned the 28th state senatorial district. Then he sought to correct his "mistake" even after some people had voted absentee. The importance of one person, one vote was tossed to the wind as he confused voters and candidates and acted as though he could insure the correct ballots were cast in the right place for the right candidates.).

The ballot card and ballot label or paper ballot also often turns people from the polls. As I have noted elsewhere, some obviously see the punch card ballot card or optical scan (fill in the ovals) ballot as a reminder of taking tests in school. Others have commented they do not vote because of fear of punching in the wrong hole; lack of ability to see the tiny holes to punch or fairly fine print on the ballot; or confusing instructions. Adults do not like to ask for help and certainly do not want to vote with assistance versus in secret.

Another actual problem with the process is the voting booth is no longer secret in most precincts. In 1996 I actually observed television cameras filming over shoulders of actual voters. I have often walked in and watched people actually marking ballots, especially those voting absentee around courthouses.

A major problem during Missouri primaries has been all the parties being stuck in one ballot label (booklet). Even some well educated voters have gotten confused and punched for candidates on more than one party. Missouri law requires separate and distinct ballots for the parties for the primary and that law needs enforced, and the public told in advance that they will have a ballot only for the party of their choice. Political party ballots (even if presented in booklet form) should be separate. The colors of the paper used for each party should also be very distinct from each other and both sides of the ballot card should be colored. In 1998 some election authorities had some of the minor parties on very similarly colored paper and some of the ballot cards were also white on the back versus solid colored paper as used for the major parties. Neither the election authorities nor election materials vendors should not be permitted to overly influence, perhaps even psychologically influence voters, through manipulation of the paper.

SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT

The process needs simplified, made more user friendly, more private, and the public needs more education on how to properly cast a ballot.

Uniform ballots should be issued by the Secretary of State's Office for all statewide offices and issues.

Sample ballots should be actually like what is at the polls, except marked as a sample and perhaps a different paper.

Sample ballots should be available in every public library, schools, community centers weeks before the election.

The secretary of state needs to require each election authority to submit sample ballots to her office well in advance of the election.

ABSENTEE BALLOTS

(Most of this is addressed on a separate page on absentee and write-in voting.) Even though absentee voting appears to often invite abuse, voters should be encouraged to cast their one ballot. Someone voting for or overly influencing another in their voting absentee seems to be somewhat commonplace with absentee voting. Bizarrely in Lawrence County in 1998 some voters were allegedly even told they had already voted absentee when they went to the polls because obviously their registration had been used by someone other than the registered voter to vote an absentee ballot. Stories of the county clerk there (and elsewhere) or employees of the election authority telling those in nursing homes how to vote makes absentee voting seem dishonest.

SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT

Please see the link to absentee and write-in voting pages below.

COST OF ELECTIONS

The cost of elections is a whole separate issue and obviously one best discussed elsewhere. However, the cost of elections materials also often is too high and turns some citizens from the polls. Obviously federal and statewide offices and issues could be placed on ballots printed in larger quantities and saving everyone money. Software programs should be more than simply certified decades ago by the state; and need to be only NASED qualified. Money again could be saved by having voting systems for tabulation more under the control of one central office and independently tested.

As an example of the extreme costs of elections, Greene County, where the county clerk has said he will not switch to an optical scan system of voting because of the expense, paid the following for the 1998 primary election materials:

120,000 ballots cards= $11,880; 120,000 ballot card secrecy envelopes (an essentially outdated, impractical false secrecy)=$5400; an additional $44,992.70 for the supplies for the punchcard system (the software and monitoring and election night adjustments); and $6160 more for delivery of the materials on election day. The cost of the machines for tabulation and initial systems are even more ridiculously priced.

CONCLUSION

The Missouri process for voter registration and casting ballots needs to be under a constant microscope for revisions to insure each voter has a fair opportunity to register, to vote, and have their vote counted with equal weight given to each individual ballot. One person, one vote must be restored to mean more than mere rhetoric.

Links to other sites on the Web

State Laws, CSRs, Constitutional Provisions
Absentee and Write-in Voting
Counting the Vote
State Election Laws
Increasing Voter Participation
Summary of Elections Report 1999

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