Secretary of State Jason Kander said last week he still is hopeful that the Missouri General Assembly will consider changes in state election law that he believes would make it easier for residents to make their choices at election time. Kander for the past two sessions has lobbied for passage of measures based on recommendations from a bipartisan election commission he named soon after taking office as the state’s chief election official. Among other things, the commission recommended that the state enact an advance, or early voting, system and no-excuse absentee balloting by mail, to provide more opportunities for voters who may not be able to make it to the polls.
Kander, a Democrat, said the measure he favors has bipartisan support and is sponsored by Rep. Myron Neth, a Republican from Liberty who is vice chairman of the House Elections Committee.
Kander said that if an early voting measure could get to a vote, he believes it would pass. “Thirty-five states have this law in some form,” he said.
Several measures allowing early voting have been introduced this session. None have made significant progress. The only election measures that appear to have traction are those that would impose photo ID requirements.
Full Article: Susan Redden: Secretary of state pushing for OK for early voting » Local News » The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO.