Missouri Secretary of State

Elections are a way to hold officials accountable at every level of the government. If we like or don’t like what our public officials stand for, then we must use our voices and our votes to make that clear!

I have tried to be impartial in the information I provide for the candidates in this election. I have found though that I cannot be impartial about the Secretary of State position because it is impacting me directly and I am angry about it. This year with the COVID-19 most states that did not already have early voting, mail-in ballots or non-excuse absentee ballots have implemented them to insure that ALL Voters could vote and remain safe. NOT Missouri? Secretary of State Ashcroft and Governor Parsons put in a half measure of allowing “Notarized Mail-IN Ballots”. Missouri is one of only 3 states requiring a Notary, additionally unlike the Absentee ballots the notarized ballots have to be MAILED, they cannot be dropped off at the Election board or other designated spot like Absentee ballots can.

Requiring notarization of these ballots goes against the whole idea of someone wanting to limit exposure by asking for an Absentee or mail-in ballot in the first place. The voter has to find a notary and then go to meet that person to get the ballot notarized.

Requiring some of the ballots to be mailed-in while others can be dropped off is very confusing for a lot of voters. Especially older voters who really have no business going to the polls on November 3rd, to be subject to long lines and COVID-19 exposure and other viruses. Additionally the request for an Absentee or Mail-In Ballot is different, the Absentee ballot request can be emailed or faxed in which speeds up the process. The MAIL-IN request has to be Mailed-IN.

THE PERSONAL PART

I am 64 yrs old, I am healthy for my age and I do not meet any of the other requirements listed in Absentee section. However, I am an essential worker who works overnights in a residential facility. I live with my 67 year old disabled sister who meets several of the requirements of 7. Both of these factors mean I have no business going to the polls on Nov 3rd. I requested ballots for both of us, I emailed hers and she got it within a few days, I had to mail mine so it took about a week to get it. We filled them out then I had to find a notary, (not sure how anyone without internet or not computer literate could even find one). I had seen a lot of groups providing lists of notaries, so I started there, most of them did not provide a location, or time, you have to call or email, find out where they are and set up an appointment (during the day for the most part). It took me a couple of days to find a community center pretty close that offered free notary for ballots at set times. My sister kept hearing it wasn’t safe to mail in the ballots so we discussed whether I was going to mail mine and then drop hers off (she cannot drive). In the end we mailed both and I have verified they have been received by the election board. Fortunately, I found out in time, that my 81 yr old mom did not know that she could do an Absentee ballot without notary or that my brother could drop it off for her at the election board. She was confused with all the scare tactics and was planning on going to the polls even though she cannot stand up for any length of time and has been avoiding the public. It should not be this difficult to vote.

Jay R Ashcroft, his office is 100% in charge of how elections go in this state. He cannot pass the buck. He lists his number one priority as: enhancing the safety and security of our elections, ensuring every registered voter can vote. BUT he has made the 2020 Election voting process complicated and harder then it needs to be when he should be trying to TRULY make it safe for ALL Voters. He has been sued by several voter rights organizations. On October 10th, he got a stay put on a Judge’s order that the “MAIL-IN ONLY” portion of the requirements be lifted to allow all ballots to dropped off at the designated drop off points. Even while there is so much efforts being put into scare tactics about mail-in ballots not being safe. At least I have not found where Jay himself is saying the mail isn’t safe and that people should vote in person. The bad laws around Missouri voting have been around a long time before Mr. Ashcroft became Secretary of State, he had an opportunity with the COVID-19 pandemic to start the change to making the process better for everyone instead he chose to make it confusing and difficult.

We have to start making changes to allow ALL eligible voters to VOTE. The policies in place for too long place an undue burden on:

• lower income voters – sure they can take time off to vote, but they don’t get paid, can’t afford to stand in long lines, many can’t afford to risk getting sick because they are health care or residential care workers or they don’t get sick pay.
• shift workers – give up sleep to vote raising their risk of illness many are health care or residential care workers also
• non-drivers – many of the people listed above also do not drive, they do not have a license or do not have a car because they can’t afford one
• parents without child-care – anyone who has every had kids know that one of the things you avoid is long boring lines with them.

Missouri is a state where our “elected” officials have too long ignored the voters will and has continually worked to suppress voting to keep the power in the hands of the few. We need to change and we need it in 2020!