Tuesday, November 07, 2006

A headline that will come back to haunt her

Carnahan concerned about confusion at polls
 
 JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri Secretary of State Robin
Carnahan is worried about potential voter confusion in today's
elections.
 Carnahan cites an experience of her own as a sign that some poll
workers may wrongly be asking voters for a photo identification.
 Carnahan tells the AP that a worker at the St. Louis Election
Board asked her three times to show a photo ID when she voted
absentee last Friday. A Missouri Supreme Court ruling struck down
the photo requirement.
 The poll worker apparently did not recognize that Carnahan was
Missouri's chief elections official when Carnahan showed a paper
voter card mailed out by the local election authority. The card
does not have a photo but is acceptable ID under Missouri law.
 

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm afraid I need a little context, Brad. How does the headline "haunt" her?

Brad Belote said...

If I were the Republican candidate in 2008 running for secretary of state, I'd take this story and headline and tuck it away for future use.

Democrats didn't hesitate to attack Matt Blunt for election problems when he was running for governor. Republicans surely won't give up the chance to attack the state's top election official for not being in control of things. (They let Bekki Cook have it in 2004).

It occurs to me however, the point may be moot. One has to believe Carnahan's health is a consideration as she decides whether to seek re-election.

The Lorax said...

I understand the idea of "haunting" Carnahan with the photo-id... but the headline ought to be "confused election officials".

Carnahan was in the right. The officials were wrong to ask for the id per current MO law... and Carnahan presumably was able to vote.

The election officials need more training. Period.