Mail-in voting could be coming to Missouri

The Missouri Legislature has adopted a bill that would allow more mail-in voting during this year’s August and November elections.

Voters could cast an absentee ballot by saying they are ill if they are 65 or older, live in a nursing home or have certain health problems, including heart problems or chronic lung disease.  All other voters could mail in their ballot without an excuse, but they must first get it notarized.

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft says it’s appropriate during a pandemic to make sure every voter can be safe, but expanded mail-in voting is not what he prefers.  Ashcroft says, “ …It’s just not the most secure way to hold an election. ”He continued, “The gold standard for elections is to have people in person go to their assigned polling place on Election Day.”

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft says he also has security concerns with expanded mail-in voting, but he gets it during a state of emergency. “I think it’s appropriate that we make sure that every voter in Missouri can vote safely,” he says.

The bill is awaiting the governor’s consideration.