Missouri Paper Ballot Initiative (2008)
From Ballotpedia
| Not on Ballot |
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| This measure did not appear on a ballot. |
The Paper ballot initiated constitutional amendment would require Missouri's voting process to be conducted on paper ballots.
Specifically, according to the ballot text it would:[1]
- Require all elections after January 1, 2009, be conducted using hand-marked, serially numbered paper ballots;
- Cap the number of registered voters per precinct at 600;
- Require absentee ballots received by the U.S. Postal Service to be delivered to the correct precinct and deposited in the ballot box prior to the polls closing;
- Require all ballots, including absentees, to be counted and results posted before such ballots are removed from the precinct; and
- Mandate original ballots to be permanently retained and available for any interested parties’ inspection and copying
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Status
The initiative failed to submit enough signatures and will not be appearing on the Missouri 2008 ballot.
Overview
This initiative marks the first attempt at resistance of the electronic voting. There has been a wide spread electronic voting movement since 2000. There have been thousands of reported failures plus key election results that were simply without explanation.[2] It is likely that the initiative will be watched for its potential national impact.
Support
Show me the vote is the campaign directing the initiative. ShowMeTheVote.Org is a non partisan voting rights organization. Their goal is to build alliances around the state regardless of party affiliation or ideology. "This is not a Democrat, Republican, or Independent issue. Free and fair elections are an American issue," said Phil Lindsey, Director of Show Me the Vote.[3]
The group believe a return to paper ballots would:
- Return of citizen access to and participation in elections.
- Stopping inaccurate vote counts, suspected election fraud
- It would be back the disillusioned voter.
Fiscal impact
Annual costs for local governments are estimated to exceed $15,000,000 with additional unknown costs for permanent ballot storage.[4]
Opposition
no information yet
See also
- Missouri 2008 Ballot Measures
- Missouri 2008 citizen initiatives
- Missouri Initiative and Referendum Law
- Campaign finance requirements for Missouri ballot measures
- Missouri signature requirements
- Petition drive deadlines in 2008
