By Susan Redden
sredden@joplinglobe.com
A change in legislation that would allow early voting sounds like a good idea to Cindy Caldwell, of Carl Junction.
She said she, her husband, Kevin, and their two voting-age daughters got in line when their polling place opened at 6 a.m. Tuesday, and didn’t cast their ballots until just after 7:30 a.m.
Secretary of State Robin Carnahan said she will ask the Legislature next year to adopt early voting. Nationwide, an estimated one-third of voters cast ballots before Tuesday, which proponents said led to reduced lines and quicker vote counts.
Caldwell said she thinks early voting “would be a help for busy people. If they could vote early, long lines wouldn’t be so much of a problem.”
He didn’t have to wait long to vote at Peace Lutheran Church, but Howard Taiclet, also favors early voting.
“I think it would cut down on the crowding and the chaos,” said Taiclet, of Joplin.
Bonnie Earl, Jasper County clerk, said the longest lines she heard about during Election Day were at the Caldwells’ polling place — Briarbrook Golf and Country Club. She said she strongly favors early voting “because it would make it easier for the voter and, in the long run, I think it would be easier for us, too.
“We could have several polling places set up throughout the county. Early voting could be available in the community instead of people standing in line at the courthouse or the courts building. Or, those ballots could even be mailed like absentee ballots,” she said.
Earl said she suspects many people used absentee voting like early voting for the November election, since more than 7,400 absentee ballots were cast.
Absentee voting is available for six weeks prior to the election, but those voters are supposed to explain why they can’t vote on Election Day. Carnahan wants to retain absentee voting but also add a two-week early voting period, no excuse necessary, just before the election.
Under Carnahan’s plan, early voters would cast ballots at election headquarters, but also at satellite polling places in urban areas.
Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt also favors early voting. But earlier this year, the House Elections Committee rejected legislation for it. Rep. Bill Deeken, R-Jefferson City, a member of the committee who will seek the chairmanship, said Missouri doesn’t need it, as long as the absentee voting system is tweaked.
“We’ve got early voting right now with the six weeks you can vote absentee,” Deeken said. “What I would favor is the no-excuse absentee. Let’s quit making people lie. I don’t want to turn anybody down. We have enough trouble getting people to vote as it is.”
Deeken opposes the opening of satellite pre-Election Day polling places, which would require finding additional election judges, finding additional space and transporting ballots back and forth.
There were nearly 3,600 absentee ballots cast before the election in Newton County and Kay Baum, county clerk, also believes some voters used that system in place of early voting.
Baum said she believes changes are needed, but said she would prefer “no-excuse absentee voting” because hiring extra workers for satellite locations could be too costly.
State Rep. Bryan Stevenson, of Joplin, said he would favor “no-excuse absentee voting,” but fears early voting in satellite locations could create opportunities for voter fraud.
“If early voting includes or retains a requirement for a photo ID, I’d be more open to it,” he said.
State Rep. Marilyn Ruestman, R-Joplin, said she hasn’t looked at either of the proposed revisions.
“Off the cuff, for me to endorse much of a change, I would have to be convinced, because I’m pretty happy the way it is,” she said. “But voting here isn’t like in the cities, so I’d want to hear both sides.”
Waits of up to seven hours were reported at some St. Louis precincts.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Early voting
More than 30 other states have early voting, including seven of the eight states that border Missouri.
Campaigns and Politics
High voter turnout raises proposal for early voting
- Campaigns and Politics
-
-
Missouri voters endorse state Proposition C
Missouri voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly rejected a key provision of President Barack Obama’s health care law, sending a clear message of discontent to Washington and Democrats less than 100 days before the midterm elections. With about 70 percent of the vote counted late Tuesday, nearly three-quarters of voters had supported the measure.
-
Neosho voters say ‘no’ to property tax
A proposal to levy a property tax to help bail the city of Neosho out of its financial meltdown failed to muster even 40 percent approval from voters in Tuesday’s election.
-
Jasper County choose incumbents for posts
Voters in Jasper County on Tuesday tabbed the incumbents for two positions, Linda Williams as circuit clerk and John Bartosh for the Republican nomination as presiding commissioner.
-
Pittsburg voters reject sales tax increase
A proposed quarter-cent city sales tax increase in Pittsburg for street repairs was defeated Tuesday by voters, 1,243 to 1,031. The margin was 55 percent “no” votes to 45 percent “yes” votes. The totals are based on complete, but unofficial, returns from the Crawford County clerk’s office.
-
Ruestman receives GOP nod; Krueger prevails in circuit clerk bid
Republicans in Newton County on Tuesday overwhelmingly selected a state lawmaker to be their nominee for presiding county commissioner, according to complete but unofficial returns. Current state Rep. Marilyn Ruestman, of Joplin, with a total of 6,125 votes, led a field of four GOP hopefuls.
-
Bill White beats Shelly Dreyer for nomination
An intense and costly battle for the Republican nomination for Missouri’s 129th District House seat concluded Tuesday with a lopsided victory for William “Bill” White, who is seeking to fill the seat being vacated by Ron Richard.
-
Moran holds lead in tight Kansas race
Western Kansas U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran held the lead over Todd Tiahrt late Tuesday night in a contentious battle for the Republican nomination for a U.S. Senate seat from Kansas.
-
Calloway defeats Titterington in 3rd District GOP race
Terry Calloway defeated Chad Titterington Tuesday in the Republican primary race for the 3rd District seat of the Kansas House of Representatives.
-
Former legislator leads race for Senate seat
A former legislator and sheriff from the Bolivar area had a wide lead for the Republican nomination for the Missouri Senate District 28 seat, according to incomplete returns Tuesday night. Mike Parson, 54, of Bolivar, the former state representative in House District 133, was the leader with 12,723 votes.
-
Long, Eckersley win nods in 7th district
Billy Long, a Springfield auctioneer, real estate salesman and former radio talk show host, won the Republican nomination for Congress from Missouri’s 7th District on Tuesday, while the Democratic nod went to Scott Eckersley, an attorney from Kimberling City who at one time worked for former GOP Gov. Matt Blunt.
- More Campaigns and Politics Headlines
-
Missouri voters endorse state Proposition C
Coffee May Be Key to Living Longer
Coffee May Be Key to Living Longer
Police to Groom of Slain Bride: Turn Yourself In
Defense Rests Without Calling Edwards, Mistress
Laurie Fine: My Life Has Been Destroyed
FTC: Skechers Deceived Consumers With Shoe Ads
FBI Confirms Leak Probe on Al-Qaida Plot
Romney Calls Obama a 'Disappointment'
Students in Tornado-hit Community Await Lady A
On Zuckerberg's Mind: People, Not Shareholders
Honda Unveils New Robotics-powered Scooter
NJ Gov., Mayor Channel Seinfeld in Video Parody
Blood Drive for Woman With Flesh-Eating Disease
AG Race Tops Oregon Primary Interest
Obama Welcomes Beckham, Galaxy to White House
Raw Video: Mladic's Genocide Trial Under Way
Court Records Detail Zimmerman Injuries
Local Community Prepares for G8 Summit
New Guidelines for US Nuclear Plants
The President's Hideaway Welcomes World Leaders
