Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Contact: Spence Jackson, (573)751-1378
Blunt Announces Support for No-Excuse Absentee Voting
JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri Governor Matt Blunt today announced his support for legislation that would eliminate the current requirements voters must meet to receive an absentee ballot, as well as provision in the law requiring absentee ballots to be notarized.
Blunt's proposal would eliminate the traditional reasons for allowing a voter to cast an absentee ballot, such as disability or absence from the polling place on Election Day. Under no-excuse absentee balloting, a voter would not have to provide any reason in order to vote absentee. State Senator Delbert Scott ( R-Lowry City) and State Representative Bill Deeken ( R-Jefferson City) have agreed to introduce Blunt’s proposed changes.
"This change will help our state build on its successful efforts of increasing voter turnout by eliminating a requirement that both voters and election officials feel is burdensome and unnecessary,” Blunt said. “I am pleased Sen. Scott and Rep. Deeken have agreed to include this provision in their election legislation and look forward to lending my support to getting it enacted."
Missouri voters broke turnout records in last year's August and November elections, a clear indicator that Missourians' confidence in the elections process has improved since the November 2000 general election that was plagued with fraud and controversy.
In 2002, Blunt secured passage of the first comprehensive election reform bill in 25 years through a Democrat-controlled House of Representatives and a Republican-controlled Senate. This landmark legislation made the ballot more accessible to registered voters than ever before and contained tough anti-fraud provisions to combat election manipulation.