Friday, May 12, 2006
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Responds to Carnahan Letter on Election Reform
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt responded to Secretary of State Robin Carnahan’s letter expressing her concerns regarding legislation that would improve voter confidence in the state’s elections process.
Carnahan is opposed to the bill that would require voters to present photo identification before receiving a ballot to help election officials confirm their identity. A special federal commission on election reform co-chaired by former President Jimmy Carter and former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker, endorsed photo identification requirements as a vehicle to fight fraud and manipulation of the system.
“I have been a longtime supporter of a photo identification requirement,” Blunt said. “The improvements we made to the identification requirements in 2002 helped restore Missourians confidence in the elections process after the disastrous 2000 general election which was eclipsed only by Florida in terms of fraud and irregularities.
“Senate Bill 1014 continues the good work we started in the secretary of state’s office that contributed to record voter turnout in both the August and November 2004 elections. I look forward to signing it into to law when it reaches my desk.”
As secretary of state Blunt enacted landmark election reforms and launched an investigation into the fraud and irregularities that plagued the November 2000 general election overseen by his predecessor. Blunt’s changes which included the implementation of provisional balloting, helped make the ballot more accessible than ever in state history and he was also successful in strengthening the law to combat those who attempt to cheat the system through duplicate voting and using the names of the deceased.
A copy of Blunt’s letter to Carnahan is attached.
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