Missouri’s chief election official has filed emergency rulemaking so the new state election law applies to the November 5th election. The new law makes three main changes: provisional balloting, identification requirements, and the use of stickers for write-in candidates. Secretary of State Matt Blunt hopes the law will address the biggest problems that surfaced on election night November 2000. A broad ID requirement will allow voters to present anything that confirms their name and address. Provisional ballots will be given to voters whose registration cannot be immediately verified and will be counted once the registration is confirmed. Blunt says Missouri has tried to address not only the problems here, but those that have been experienced in other states. Blunt does point out one thing though. Laws can be passed and orders issued, but it’s up to the local election authorities to ensure integrity.
