Missouri, the last, gets the votes counted at last

The official results won’t be posted until early next month, but the final unofficial tally says John McCain beat Barack Obama in Missouri by 3902 votes out of 2,925,197 votes cast. The numbers have been revised after local election officials finished counting acceptable provisional ballots–the ballots people were allowed to cast if they had trouble proving their eligibility at the polling place. The provisional ballots let Obama gain about 1,000 votes on McCain. Completion of the provisional ballot count means Missouri is no longer the only state with incomplete returns.

Missouri has gone for the losing presidential candidate for the first time since 1956 and the second time in the last 27 elections. In 1956, Missourians went with Adlai Stevenson by 22 one-hundredths of one percent. The margin this year gives McCain a win by 12 one-hundredths of a percent. Obama could have a recount if he wants—but his big electoral college victory makes the issue all but moot.Obama now leads McCain 364-174 in the Electoral College.

The provisional ballots also have tightened one state senate race to just 76 votes. Former Representative Joan Barry of St.Louis is expected to ask for a recount in her race against Representative Jim Lembke. More than 88-thousand votes were cast in that race.

The final unofficial tally also shows the Constitution Party has won a place on the ballot for the next two general elections. One of its candidates in a statewide race got at least two percent of the vote. Libertarians didn’t hit that level this time and if they don’t do it in 20-10, they’ll have to circulate petitions to put candidates on the ballot in 2012.