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Press release: Republicans pass sham early voting proposal

For Immediate Release:                                       For more information contact:

May 14, 2014                                              Rep. Randy Dunn at (573) 751-0538

 

Republicans pass sham early voting proposal

Real purpose is to confuse voters, thwart substantive early voting

 

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – House Republicans today granted final approval to sham early voting legislation whose real purpose of is to confuse Missouri voters and possibly preempt a substantive early voting proposal that likely also will appear on the statewide ballot this year.

 

House Joint Resolution 90, was cleared for the ballot on 92-57 House vote after earlier passing the Senate. Unified House Democrats were joined by eight Republicans in opposing the measure. HJR 90 automatically will go on the Nov. 4 statewide ballot for voter ratification, although the governor has the constitutional authority to put the proposal on the Aug. 5 primary ballot if he chooses.

 

“HJR 90 is a sham intended to trick voters into thinking they are getting something they aren’t – real early voting,” said state Rep. Randy Dunn, D-Kansas City.

 

Earlier this month, supporters of true early voting submitted initiative petitions to put a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot that would require six weeks of early voting, including weekends, prior to state and federal elections. The initiative proposal will go on the Nov. 4 ballot once state officials determine it has the required number of valid signatures, which is expected.

 

By contrast, the early voting period proposed by HJR 90 would last just six days, excluding weekends, and would only occur if lawmakers specifically appropriate funding for early voting during a given election cycle. As a result, the Republican-controlled General Assembly could easily block early voting from happening by refusing to provide funding. Under the initiative proposal, the early voting period would be mandatory and not dependent on a specific budget appropriation.

 

“Even the six-day early voting period allowed by HJR 90 likely would never happen since Republican lawmakers would block it by withholding funding,” Dunn said. “Missourians want a legitimate and guaranteed early voting period, not partisan trickery.”

 

Under the Missouri Constitution, if conflicting proposals appear on the same ballot and are both approved, the one receiving the most votes in favor prevails.

 

 

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