ST. LOUIS -- Still smarting from chaos at local polls during the November 2000 general election, the St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners faces more criticism over word its absentee ballots aren't ready, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Wednesday.

The newspaper, in a copyright story, said while absentee balloting was to begin Sept. 24 for the Nov. 5 election, as required by Missouri law, the ballots in St. Louis probably would not be available until later this week.

Sheila Greenbaum, the board's Democratic elections director, blamed a series of September court battles over various measures slated to be on city ballots, though state election officials voiced dissatisfaction with that excuse.

"We're shocked and upset," said Spence Jackson, Secretary of State Matt Blunt's spokesman.

Jackson said the office was unaware of similar problems in other areas, but the state appears to have no jurisdiction for punishing the city for failing to have its absentee ballots ready on time.

It was not immediately clear what impact the delay would have on city voters seeking to cast absentee ballots.

"If these reports are true, the city will be in legal breach of its duty to absentee voters for no good reason," Jackson said.

Those seeking absentee ballots this week included retired Rep. William L. Clay Sr. His son, Rep. William Lacy Clay, successfully sought a federal investigation after the chaos at city polls two years ago.

St. Louis recently entered into a federal consent decree aimed at resolving the voter-access problems that the Justice Department blamed for many of the problems in 2000.

Greenbaum said there were various good reasons, notably the court cases, for the absentee ballot delay. It wasn't until Sept. 18, she said, that a judge certified the last of the ballot measures. State law gives the Election Board two weeks after the last court ruling to get the ballots ready, she said.

Three of the measures relate to proposals involving the city schools; the fourth is an initiative that would require voter approval before the city provides any financial assistance, including tax breaks, for a professional sports facility.

Jackson said Blunt's office doesn't believe that the court cases fall within that exemption to the Sept. 25 deadline.