Missouri State Archives
Finding Aid 552.15

Office of Secretary of State

Legislator Papers, ELIZABETH LONG, 1990-2001

Abstract: Papers (1989-2001) of Missouri State Representative Elizabeth Long (1948-    ) of Lebanon includes House Elections Committee and Fair Elections Commission records.

Extent: 0.4 cubic ft. (1 Hollinger box)

Physical Description:  Paper

Location: MSA Stacks 43B/2/6

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Access Restrictions: No special restrictions.

Publication Restrictions: Copyright is in the public domain for state publications and for correspondence to and from Elizabeth Long in her official capacity. Researchers bear sole responsibility for following applicable copyright laws.

Acquisition Information: Accession 2002-0264.

Processing Information: Processing completed by Sharon E. Brock on March 14, 2008.

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

The first woman elected to county office in Laclede County, Elizabeth Long was born April 7, 1948, in Lebanon, Missouri. She attended Drury College in Springfield. Long served ten years as a Republican committeewoman and two years as Republican county chair. She was elected Laclede County Clerk and served from 1983 until 1990.

Representative Long was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives from the 142nd District during a special election in February of 1990 and was reelected in 1990. She was elected to the 146th District in 1992, which serves parts of Dallas and Laclede counties, and was reelected in 1994, 1996, 1998, and 2000.

Representative Long was appointed Minority Caucus Chair and served on the Accounts, Operations, and Finance; Administration and Accounts; Appropriations-Social Services and Corrections; Appropriations-Natural and Economic Resources; Banks and Financial Institutions; Elections; Federal-State Relations and Veterans' Affairs; Fees and Salaries; Rules, Joint Rules, Bills Perfected and Printed; State Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources; State Parks, Natural Resources, and Mining; Tourism, Recreational, and Cultural Affairs; and Transportation committees.

SERIES

The records of Elizabeth Long are broken down into the following series:

Committee Files, 1989-2001
Commission Files, 1994-1995

COMMITTEE FILES, 1989-2001

Extent: 0.3 cubic ft. (1 partial Hollinger box)

Arrangement: Alphabetical by committee name and thereunder chronological

Scope and Content

Research compiled for the Missouri House Elections Committee comprises the series.

In 1993, the U.S. Congress passed the National Voter Registration Act, popularly known as the Motor Voter Act. The legislation requires states to provide individuals with the opportunity to register to vote at the same time that they apply for a driver's license or seek to renew a driver's license; to forward the completed application to the appropriate state of local election official; to offer voter registration opportunities at all offices that provide public assistance and all offices that provide state-funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to persons with disabilities; to provide the ability to register to vote by mail using mail-in-forms developed by each state and the Election Assistance Commission; and to create requirements for how states maintain voter registration lists for federal elections. Signed into law by President Clinton, the legislation overcame constitutionality challenges and took effect January 1,1995.

Consequently, the Missouri House Elections Committee researched election reform beginning in 1993. Materials include, but are not limited to, Internet voting; early and absentee voting; military voters; term limits; voter registration procedures in other states; and voter fraud. Due to size and complexity, supporting materials are organized at the end of the Elections Committee files. The series includes committee schedules and hearing testimonies; correspondence with Missouri's Congressional delegation and election officials in other states; newspaper clippings and magazine articles; and national task force recommendations and reports.

In 1995, Representative Long mailed a questionnaire pertaining to the motor voter law to county election personnel across the state. She received 87 responses, a sample of which have been retained and are arranged in alphabetical order by county name. Responses detailed statewide problems with the implementation of the National Voter Registration Act.

Container List

Location	Box	Folder	Contents
43B/2/6	1	1	Elections, Correspondence, 1995-2001
43B/2/6	1	2	Elections, 1993-1996
43B/2/6	1	3	Elections, 1998
43B/2/6	1	4	Elections, 1999
43B/2/6	1	5	Elections, 2001
43B/2/6	1	6	Elections, Supporting materials—Early Voting, 1992-2001
43B/2/6	1	7	Elections, Supporting materials—Internet voting, 1998
43B/2/6	1	8	Elections, Supporting materials—Military and Absentee voters, 1989-1998
43B/2/6	1	9	Elections, Supporting materials—National Clearinghouse on Election Administration, Federal Election Commission,  1994
43B/2/6	1	10	Elections, Supporting materials—National Task Force Recommendations for Election Reform, 2001
43B/2/6	1	11	Elections, Supporting materials—Questionnaire, 1995
43B/2/6	1	12	Elections, Supporting materials—Voter fraud, 1998
43B/2/6	1	13	Elections, Supporting materials—Voter registration, Iowa, 1993
43B/2/6	1	14	Elections, Supporting materials—Voter registration, Minnesota, 1993
43B/2/6	1	15	Elections, Supporting materials—Voter registration, Nevada, 1993
43B/2/6	1	16	Elections, Supporting materials—Voter registration, U.S., 1993

COMMISSION FILES, 1994-1995

Extent: 0.1 cubic ft. (1 partial Hollinger box)

Arrangement: Chronological 

Scope and Content

Missouri Fair Elections Commission materials include correspondence and memoranda; letters to the editor and other newspaper clippings; opinions from the Missouri Attorney General's office; notices of public meetings, minutes, and testimonies; and final and minority reports.

Container List

Location	Box	Folder	Contents
43B/2/6	1	17	Fair Elections Commission, 1994
43B/2/6	1	18	Fair Elections Commission, May-September 1995
43B/2/6	1	19	Fair Elections Commission, October 1995
43B/2/6	1	20	Fair Elections Commission, November 1995