Carnahan to push for early voting in Mo.

[usregimechange]

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Early voting proved popular around the country this year, and Missouri's top election official said Thursday she wants the Show-Me State to follow suit.

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 proponent said led to reduced lines and quicker vote counts.

That wasn't always the case in Missouri. Velda City in suburban St. Louis saw lines of up to seven hours, and Election Day lines of an hour or more were common in the urban areas. Ballots in some counties, including St. Louis and Jackson counties, weren't completely counted until well after midnight.

In a sense, Missouri already has early voting. Absentee voting is available for six weeks prior to the election, but those voters must 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 prior to the election.

http://www.kmov.com/topstories/stories/kmov-politics-08...oting.188b25af0.html


I have written to my state rep to push for this and I encourage everyone here to do the same.