FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, June 16, 2006
Contact: Stacie Temple, (573) 526-5076
Contact: Mike Seitz, (573) 526-0949

Carnahan and Noren Work Together for Missouri Voters

Announce Plan for Boone County to Join Statewide Voter Registration Database

Jefferson City, Missouri -- Secretary of State Robin Carnahan and Boone County Clerk Wendy Noren announced today that they have worked together to formulate a plan that would allow Boone County to become part of Missouri’s statewide voter registration database. The plan puts Boone County on track to join the rest of Missouri’s 115 election jurisdictions by participating in the statewide system.

"I’m very pleased we’ve been able to work together to find a solution that complies with the federal law, meets the needs of the Boone County Clerk’s office and helps to increase the accuracy of the state’s voter registration lists," said Carnahan. "This is an important step that will help protect the integrity of our state’s elections and increase voters’ confidence in the system."

Under the agreement, Boone County and the Office of Secretary of State signed an implementation plan to incorporate the county’s voter registration into the statewide system before the next federal election in August.

"This provides a way for the Boone County Clerk’s office to join the statewide system while continuing to operate off of the same voter registration system we’ve been using to offer outstanding service to Boone County voters for years," said Noren. "I’m glad that Secretary Carnahan and I have been able to work together to find a solution that also allows Boone County voters to benefit from the statewide effort."

Previously, each county and election board was responsible for keeping their own, separate list of the registered voters in their jurisdiction. However, in 2002 the federal government passed the Help America Vote Act which, among other things, requires the State of Missouri to have one list of all the registered voters in the state.

This statewide system is designed to increase the accuracy of voter registration lists, because election authorities can use it to determine if people are registered in more than one county or if there are other errors in voter registration lists. The data on the statewide voter registration list can also be cross-checked with change-of-address records and death records.

The August 8 primary election will mark the first federal election in which the statewide system will be used.

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