FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Contact: Laura Egerdal, (573) 526-0949
Contact: Ryan Hobart, (573) 526-4734

Carnahan Certifies November 4 General Election Results

Jefferson City, MO -- Secretary of State Robin Carnahan today certified the final results of the November 4, 2008 General Election at her office in Jefferson City, Missouri.

The certification process, set by Missouri statute, ensures every vote is counted and vote totals are accurate before the results are official. Local election officials had two weeks to verify election night vote totals and evaluate provisional ballots to see if they were eligible to be counted. The Secretary of State’s Office then has until December 9 to confirm the results reported by each of Missouri’s 116 voting jurisdictions. After this process is complete, a panel of judges and the Secretary of State meet to certify the official election results.

This year, voters around the state waited to see if the certification process would change the narrow margin between the Presidential candidates. After certification, John McCain carried Missouri by 3,903 votes, the closest Presidential contest in Missouri since 1908.

Carnahan praised local election officials for their diligence in preparing for high voter turnout. “I want to thank poll workers and election authorities for all of their hard work and dedication,” said Carnahan. “These volunteers and officials around the state worked long hours to ensure that Missourians were able to make their voices heard and they deserve credit for a smooth election.”

A record 2.9 million Missourians cast a ballot in the November 4 election, many using optical scan voting machines for the first time. No counties reported a shortage of ballots, with only minor technical issues reported across the state. The most serious problems reported were long lines at several polling places. Secretary Carnahan continues to support early voting legislation similar to that passed in 35 other states, which would help alleviate long lines at the polls.

Over 20,000 Missourians volunteered to serve as poll workers on Election Day. This year, the Secretary of State’s Office made over $2 million available for additional poll workers, allowing local election officials to have trouble shooters and voter assistance specialists available at many polling places across the state.

To view the official election results, please visit http://www.sos.mo.gov/enrweb/. Missouri’s 11 electors will meet at the State Capitol on December 15, 2008 to cast their ballots for President and Vice President. The Electoral College vote will be officially counted on January 6, 2009 by a Special Joint Session of Congress.

 

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To find out more about Missouri’s Secretary of State’s office, visit www.sos.mo.gov

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