Despite problems, St. Louis officials see no cause for concern as election nears

ST. LOUIS -- Experts say conditions in Missouri are ripe for election-night debacles. But polling organizers in St. Louis, where the process has been scrutinized since 2000, say they are as prepared as ever.

In Missouri and several other states, voter identification laws were passed, then overturned by the courts. As a result, a nonpartisan election research group believes confusion and long lines could be abundant. New technology and increased involvement by lawyers could also create twists and turns on Election Day.

"Problems at the polls were always going on. The 2000 election highlighted all the things that were never reported," said Tova Wang, who co-wrote a report for The Century Foundation called "Voting in 2006: Have We Solved the Problems of 2004?"

Wang said the short answer to that question is no. Problems at the polls are inevitable with quickly changing rules and volunteer poll workers managing too-close-to-call races.

The world was certainly watching St. Louis in 2004. In fact, election monitors from several counties were in the city to observe the process that was so troubled in 2000.

In the November 2000 election, hundreds of potential St. Louis voters were turned away because of long lines. A judge ordered the polls to remain open late -- responding to Democratic lawsuits. The move was later overruled by an appellate court.

While the 2004 process in St. Louis generally received high marks, there are new concerns for the Nov. 7 midterm election. Voter identification laws that were passed, then struck down, could lead to confusion not only among voters but among poll workers, too, Wang said.

Also in Missouri, the elimination of straight-ticket voting is new this year, a change that also could create confusion and clogged lines of voters.

David Becker, an attorney for the People For the American Way Foundation in Washington, said voters don't need to feel burdened by the process.

"Whether it's long lines or new procedures, if there are problems, people are less inclined to vote," Becker said. "In general, the process works. The only way to know the process is not working is to participate as a voter."

During elections past, St. Louis was often the state's last jurisdiction to report final results, because of snags and counting errors by workers at some precincts. In the April 2006 election, St. Louis was among the first.

St. Louis County, though, had its own problems this August. Trouble with new touch-screen ballots meant that a day after the primary election, county officials were still awaiting complete results from a dozen precincts.

Scott Leiendecker, Republican elections director for St. Louis city, said training of election judges is the key, especially for counties that are using electronic voting machines for the first time. Among those first-time users will be St. Louis residents.

Leiendecker said officials have worked hard to educate the public about the machines, inviting residents to try them out at grocery stores and in trial runs at the polls. TV and newspaper ads are also planned to clear up any confusion concerning the voter ID law and elimination of the single-party ballot.

That doesn't mean Leiendecker expects nothing but smooth sailing.

"You're always going to have surprises on Election Day," Leiendecker said. "You take them as they come and have the best team of polling judges possible."

In Columbia, Boone County Clerk Wendy Noren said she could use 100 more poll workers before Election Day. But she doubts it will be possible to give them all adequate training.

"No election is perfect. Battle ground states like Missouri, both parties are going do everything they can to make the system appear to be at fault," Noren said. "It's very nerve-wracking."