What a difference six years makes.
If you remember, much of the push for election reform in Missouri came when polling places were held open after closing time in St. Louis in the 2000 general election. At the time, Republicans screamed to high heaven that Democrats were attempting to steal the election.
Now when the Jasper County clerk sorely misjudged the turnout and voters are going home rather than wait in long lines for photocopied ballots, suddenly keeping the polls open is a reasonable, desirable option.
Take the quote given by Jasper County Republican Committee Chairman John Putnam in a story posted less than an hour ago in the Joplin Globe:
Party officials also were looking at asking that voting hours be extended to make sure all voters were able to cast ballots, said John Putnam, chairman of the Jasper County Republican Central Committee. Putnam said he had been told that ballot had run out at a dozen precincts, but said he had been assured by Mosbaugh that all precincts would be resupplied. "We're asking people to stay, or getting their names and phone numbers to call them when they get the ballots, so they can come back in," he said. "We're begging people to stay, we think we'll need the Jasper County vote to help Talent win."
While I agree that the polling places should remain open until people have a reasonable chance to cast their ballots, I am struck by the hypocrisy.
Randy, I think you are taking that quote out-of-context. The Globe story doesn't indicate when he said that, but it was likely before 7 p.m. The article seems to suggest that the Democrats are pushing to keep the doors open. The Globe needs make sure its updates are clear before rushing to the Web.
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