Provisionals at heart of Missouri’s up-in-air status
About 7,000 provisional ballots — virtually all from Missouri’s two urban areas — will likely decide whether the state sticks with Republican John McCain or shifts into the column of Democratic president-elect Barack Obama.
Almost half of those ballots were cast in St. Louis County, and the bulk of those in predominantly African-American polling places. Apparently, at some polling sites, if questions arose about a would-be voter’s status Tuesday, they were handed a provisional ballot. Poll workers could have called the county Election Board headquarters instead.
A spokeswoman for the Secretary of State’s office says that, generally speaking, only 30-40 percent of provisional ballots get counted. The chief reason for the toss-out? The person was in the wrong polling place.
I say “376 or Fight!” See: http://geography.about.com/od/politicalgeography/a/5440orfight.htm
“generally speaking, only 30-40 percent of provisional ballots get counted. The chief reason for the toss-out? The person was in the wrong polling place.”
Moved from Washington state where the accepted rate is closer to 70%. This is something MO needs to address. Why should a valid registered voter voting for the President of the United states lose his / her vote becuase they stepped into the incorrect polling location.
There are ways to verify this voter has not double voted. Hopefully with Nixon and Carnahen in place we can work the legislature to move.