In a recent development, a Republican committeeman has filed a petition requesting a judge to halt early voting in St. Charles County, Missouri, until the inclusion of 'watchers' or 'challengers' to oversee the polling process. The county, which is the third-largest in Missouri, has continued with early voting operations pending a decision from the court.
St. Charles County's elections director, Kurt Bahr, along with Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, have confirmed that early voting will proceed until a ruling is made. The petition for the injunction was filed by the committeeman, and a court hearing is scheduled for Friday morning.
Notably, this election marks the first time that Missouri has implemented no-excuse absentee voting. According to state law, political parties on the ballot have the right to appoint a 'challenger' for each polling place on Election Day, while for absentee voting, challengers are permitted at locations where ballots are being counted.
The petitioner argues that the presence of observers is crucial as ballots are essentially tabulated when voters insert them into a scanner. The petition emphasizes that the absence of challengers or watchers compromises the safety and transparency of the electoral process.
While the committeeman has clarified that there are no suspicions of misconduct, the primary objective is to enable observation of the voting process. St. Charles County initially anticipated around 2,500 daily voters during the two-week early voting period, but the turnout has exceeded expectations on certain days, with up to 5,000 ballots cast.
However, the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition has raised concerns about potential voter deterrence following the injunction request. The coalition's leaders have condemned the petition as a voter suppression tactic aimed at discouraging voter turnout.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the future of early voting in St. Charles County remains uncertain, pending the court's decision on the matter.
