Mo. election officials get ready for heavy turnout

ST. LOUIS -- Lines could be long, so be prepared to wait. The ballot questions will be many, so do your homework ahead of time. And don't forget to bring identification.

Election officials hope those suggestions will help reduce wait times and eliminate problems for what is expected to be a near-record turnout on Election Day in Missouri.

Secretary of State Robin Carnahan said Monday she feels confident local election authorities are prepared for today's voting, when 76 percent of the state's 4.2 million registered voters are expected to head to the polls. The 1992 turnout was 77 percent.

Half of this year's 340,000 newly registered voters are between the ages of 18 to 24.

She expects no repeats of precincts running out of paper ballots, as was the case in 2006. Poll workers have been recruited and trained, and this year, they will include high school and college-age techno-savvy troubleshooters.

"If you have well-trained people in a polling place, things will go well. If not, and there's a big stress, then that increases long lines, and voters have less confidence" in the system, Carnahan said.

But lines could be long from the sheer number of voters and ballot races and questions. In some communities in St. Louis County, voters will have to decide as many as 40 races or questions.

St. Louis County, the largest voting entity in Missouri with 715,000 registered voters, has been preparing three years for this election. About 75,000 already have voted absentee.

St. Louis County Democratic election director Joe Donahue said the equipment is ready, technicians will be in the field, and staff members are geared up. Deputies will assemble at 3 a.m. to receive their marching orders.

In St. Louis city, poll workers will receive automated early morning wake-up calls, and if anyone still sleeps in, more people are on standby, said Scott Leiendecker, Republican director of the St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners.

"If things go as well as they have for the absentee votes, I feel pretty confident," he said. "We've processed 500 absentee voters today."

The number of absentee voters more than doubled this year in St. Louis City since 2004 -- from 7,500 to 17,000.

"There is going to be a wait, but you have to wait for a cup of coffee at McDonald's in the morning," Leiendecker said. "Bring stuff to read."

Carnahan urged voters to come to the polls prepared, and bring a filled-out sample ballot with them, along with a form of identification. Any questions, go to http://www.votemissouri.com/.

Voters may not wear campaign buttons or apparel at polling places.

Also, they should take note: This is the first presidential election in which voters cannot vote a straight party ticket. They must vote each individual race.

Voters should plan for a wait, but know that as long as they are in line by 7 p.m., they can vote, "even if it takes two more hours," Carnahan said.

The most important suggestion, Carnahan said: "Don't walk out without voting. Make sure your voice is heard."