Clerks criticize online voter registration tool

Posted 11/7/19

By Chris OrletRecord Managing EditorWarren County Clerk Barb Daly says the new online voter registration tool recently unveiled by the Missouri Secretary of State’s office is presenting a problem …

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Clerks criticize online voter registration tool

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By Chris OrletRecord Managing EditorWarren County Clerk Barb Daly says the new online voter registration tool recently unveiled by the Missouri Secretary of State’s office is presenting a problem for election officials.Secretary of State Jason Kander’s office has touted the new online registration system which went live on Dec. 19, saying it increases efficiency and accessibility for Missouri voters.Missouri residents can now register to vote online by filling out a form and signing it through a computer, tablet or smartphone. It also allows voters to change their voter registration address.After voters complete and sign the registration form online, Kander’s office will then print the form and mail it to the local election authority, a news release from the secretary of state says.However, Daly says the digital signatures are unreadable.“If we receive one we have to send back a letter saying we are in receipt of the voter registration form, however, we can’t accept a digital signature because it is not legible.”The letter also explains that the digital signature will not match the signature entered into the poll roster book. The letter includes a place to sign and a self-addressed stamped envelope which can be returned to election officials.Daly says failure to return the form with a handwritten signature could result in your signature not being accepted on the poll roster book, an absentee ballot, or on a petition on Election Day.Franklin County Clerk Debbie Door has also criticized the online voter registration saying allowing voters to electronically sign registration forms could present problems with verifying signatures of voters on petitions.Democrat and Republican clerks in some Missouri counties have voiced support for the new system, according to a press release issued by Kander’s office.Susette Taylor, Atchison County clerk and current president of the Missouri County clerks Association, told The Record that initially her organization did have concerns over the online registration system especially as to verification of signatures. But she is confident that things “are moving in a positive direction” following a meeting with her group and Secretary Kander’s office in January.“Our biggest concern was over the online signatures,” Taylor said. “We met with them and they agreed to make some changes that we requested and I think that it has helped.”Camden County Clerk Rowland Todd, a Republican, was quoted in the news release from Kander’s office saying the new online registration will be convenient and modernize the voter’s experience.Likewise, Phelps County Clerk Carol Bennett, a Democrat, said citizens can pay their taxes online and renew their license plates on the Internet, so it is time to offer the same convenience for voter registration.Daly says if enough clerks express concerns over the new system the state will fix the problem. For now Daly suggested voters print out the voter registration form, sign it and send it to the secretary of state’s office. “At least we’ll have an acceptable signature,” she said.Daly said only two or three county residents have used the online registration form so far. Warren County has 21,699 registered voters.The new online form can be found at www.sos.mo.gov/votemissouri.Missouri is not the only state to use online registration tools. According to Kander’s office, 15 other states, including Kansas and Indiana, use online tools to make it more convenient for voters to register. Five other states are also looking into similar technology.According to a spokesperson for the secretary of state’s office, more than 1,500 people statewide have used the new online tool to register to vote.Josh Mitchell, of the Washington Missourian, contributed to this story.Clerks criticize online voter registration tool


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