A Missouri House task force investigating the issues that led to a chaotic April 5 municipal election has come up with a legislative agenda to address the ongoing problems plaguing residents seeking to cast a vote in St. Louis County. The proposals referred to House Speaker Todd Richardson include a recommendation that residency no longer be a qualification for leadership of the St. Louis County Board of Elections. Removing a requirement that the two directors atop the election authority reside in the county would open the door for a “nationwide search … for those critical positions,” Rep. Shamed Dogan said in a letter delivered to Richardson’s office Thursday afternoon.
The recommendations also seek upgraded training for election employees, improved electoral technology, the establishment of a “Casualty Control Book” to assist poll workers confronted with “abnormalities in the voting process” and a review of the proofreading process prior to election days.
Dogan, R-Ballwin, chairs the House Task Force on Election Procedures and Accountability. The task force, along with the House Special Committee on Urban Affairs, has hosted two hearings on why more than 60 precincts encountered ballot issues on April 5 and on the steps necessary to halt what has become of a pattern of irregularities in the county voting process.
Full Article: Missouri House task force issues report on botched St. Louis County election | Metro | stltoday.com.