by Jessica Machetta
The court-ordered special primary election between State Rep. Penny Hubbard (D-St. Louis) and challenger Bruce Franks has been set for next Friday, September 16, and it leaves no room for error.
Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City
A judge said the St. Louis City Board of Elections didn’t follow the rules for absentee voting in the August primary, and now voters will again have to choose between Hubbard and Franks on the 16th. However, that leaves only seven days for those votes to be certified before absentee ballots for the November general election are mailed out on September 23.
Franks had challenged the August vote that put Hubbard as the winner by only 90 votes, all of which and more – 142 to be exact – were absentee ballots, which had been cast in person and were not in the required envelopes. Franks accuses Rep. Hubbard of voter fraud, but the judge placed the blame squarely on the Election Commission.
Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander (D) has told the St. Louis Election Commission that he’ll make sure his office certifies the votes as soon as possible.
Hubbard is seeking her fourth term in the Missouri House. She was first elected to the House in 2010, and is finishing her sixth year in Jefferson City. The district includes parts of north and south St. Louis, as well as part of downtown.