Missouri will join the 33 states that allow early voting if voters approve Amendment 6 on Tuesday. But the proposed amendment would make Missouri's early voting laws some of the most stringent in the country.
Amendment 6 would allow for six business days of early voting per general election, beginning in 2016. The early voting would occur at county clerks' offices during normal business hours and depends on the Legislature and governor approving extra funding for the added expenses.
Voting policies vary by state, but most states, including Kansas and Illinois, offer longer early voting periods and more flexible locations and times. An earlier ballot proposal would have allowed up to six weeks of early voting in Missouri. The measure failed to garner enough signatures to appear on the ballot.
"Six days is a little bit different than a free-for-all of six weeks," said Aaron Baker, spokesman for Missourians for Free and Fair Elections, a political action committee supporting the amendment. "Most Missourians support easier access to the ballot box in a fair and secure way. ... This proposal makes that happen without giving either party an unfair advantage."
The National Conference of State Legislators, a bipartisan nongovernmental organization, reports that across states, the average early voting period is 19 days. Kansas allows registered voters to vote in person or by mail up to 20 days before an election. Twelve states mandate early voting centers be open at least one weekend day before an election. Some, such as Illinois, leave hours up to local election officials.
Sarah Rossi, director of advocacy and policy at the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri, called the bill "a sham."
"A good early voting measure would include more than six days of early voting," Rossi said. "A lot of people need weeks and nights if they want to vote because they can't get out of work during business hours."
The Missouri Association of County Clerks and Election Authorities came out against the six-week early voting proposal, citing high costs. The organization hasn't taken a position on Amendment 6. Christian County Clerk Kay Brown, president of the association, said since clerks count votes, it would be unethical for the association to take a formal position on the amendment, though many clerks hold strong personal views.
"It's literally going to affect our jobs," Brown said. "But because of our jobs, we can't take a position for or against (Amendment 6)."
Boone County Clerk Wendy Noren said she was "absolutely opposed" to the plan because it would codify voting procedure in the state Constitution.
Secretary of State Jason Kander, who campaigned for early voting, criticized the amendment for being expensive and confusing to voters and election authorities. Start-up costs for early voting are estimated at $2 million, with each additional election costing about $100,000.
"If it passes, we're going to have to go back and immediately try to fix it, and it will be in the state Constitution," Kander said. "(Early voting) shouldn't be on-again, off-again. At a whim, legislators could decide, "Oh, we don't want early voting for this issue,' and decide not to fund it."
Although some clerks and elected officials have taken positions on the amendment, it hasn't dominated political advertising. Baker said Missourians for Free and Fair Elections is monitoring polling closely but hasn't committed to advertising.
"We're considering different strategies," Baker said. "At the end of the day, it comes down to Missouri voters."