https://www.sos.mo.gov/news?Type=custom&Month=&Year=2020&Keyword=

Missouri Secretary of State John R. Ashcroft

December 8, 2020
Contact: Maura Browning

Board of State Canvassers Certify November General Election Results

Jefferson City, Mo. — The Board of State Canvassers, composed of Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, Judge Patricia Joyce and Judge Jon Beetem, certified the results of the Nov. 3 general election today. 

“With November’s results official, we are pleased to have completed another successful election cycle in unprecedented times in Missouri,” Ashcroft said. “The success of November’s election is thanks to the tireless effort of Missouri’s voters, election authorities and poll workers.” 

Official results show 3,026,028 Missourians, 70.07% of registered voters, voted in the general election.

The certification process, set by Missouri statute, ensures every vote is counted and vote totals are accurate before the results are official. After Election Day, local officials have two weeks to verify vote totals and evaluate provisional ballots. The Secretary of State’s Office then has until the second Tuesday in December to validate the results reported by each of Missouri’s 116 local election authorities. The secretary of state and a panel of judges, comprising the Board of State Canvassers, then meet to certify the official results. 

According to state law, any candidate for election to any office may challenge the correctness of the returns for the office, charging that irregularities occurred. In addition, the law states the result of any election on any question may be contested by registered voters from the area in which the election was held. Any authorized person wishing to contest the election must do so no later than 30 days after the secretary of state officially announces the results. The process for contesting an election is detailed in state statutes 115.553-115.600 RSMo

Official results from the November election, as well as previous elections, are available at enr.sos.mo.gov

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Missouri Secretary of State John R. Ashcroft
November 4, 2020
Contact: Maura Browning

Ashcroft Applauds Missourians for Smooth Election, High Turnout 

Jefferson City, Mo. — Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft is thanking voters, election officials and poll workers today for helping to make yesterday’s general election a success. 

“The success of yesterday’s historic election is thanks to the tireless effort of Missouri’s voters, election authorities and poll workers,” Ashcroft said. “Election officials and their staff work long hours under stressful conditions, and it’s their preparation in the weeks and months prior and their diligent effort on Election Day that made Missouri’s elections run smoothly. It was great to see so many Missourians participating in our democracy and making their voices heard.” 

According to unofficial results, about 70% of the roughly 4.3 million registered Missourians voted in yesterday’s general election. 

Results posted on the Election Night Reporting site are unofficial. Local election authorities have two weeks after the election to report their certified results to the Secretary of State, and the Secretary’s Office must certify the state results by Dec. 8. 

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Missouri Secretary of State John R. Ashcroft
November 2, 2020
Contact: Maura Browning

Ashcroft Reminds Voters of Polling Place Rules, Outlines Election Night Reporting Process

Jefferson City, Mo. — On the eve of the Nov. 3 general election, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft is reminding voters of polling place rules and outlining the Election Night Reporting process.
“With Missourians across the state set to cast their ballots tomorrow, we want to ensure voters know what they will encounter at their polling places,” Ashcroft said.

Missouri election law (115.637 RSMo.) prohibits wearing political apparel to the polls, including political masks, shirts, hats, buttons or any other apparel that advocates for a political candidate or issue. Similarly, the law prohibits any electioneering inside of a polling place or within 25 feet of one.

According to state statute (115.409 RSMo.), only voters and their children, poll workers and other election officials, and pre-approved poll watchers may be inside a polling place. State law (571.030.1(8) RSMo.) also prohibits firearms inside of polling places. Law enforcement officials, at the request of election authorities or in the line of duty, may be inside the polling place.
Voters are also prohibited (115.637.14 RSMo.) from sharing their ballot with others, which is why voters may not take photos inside their polling place.

“On Election Day, we urge voters to focus their political passion on their ballot instead of their apparel, and refrain from taking selfies or other photos in their polling place,” Ashcroft said.

The office’s Election Night Reporting site will not be activated until each polling place has closed and all voters in line at 7 p.m. have cast a ballot. Unofficial results will continue to update throughout the night. Local election authorities may begin posting results prior to those results appearing on the Election Night Reporting site.

Election data such as the number of registered voters, the number of absentee/mail-in ballots cast and historical election data is available in the media toolkit provided at sos.mo.gov/mediatoolkit.

Polls across the state open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Voters in line at 7 p.m. are entitled to cast a ballot. Voters who encounter issues or have questions on Election Day are encouraged to contact their local election authority or call the Secretary of State’s office at 800-669-8683.

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Missouri Secretary of State John R. Ashcroft
October 27, 2020
Contact: Maura Browning

Ashcroft: How to Be Educated, Prepared on Election Day

Jefferson City, Mo. — One week out from the Nov. 3 general election, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft is outlining what Missourians can do to ensure they are prepared on Election Day. 
“With only a few short days before the presidential election, we’re highlighting some voting details to make sure Missourians are educated and prepared when they go vote on Nov. 3,” Ashcroft said.

Preparing to Vote
Polls across the state open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Voters in line at 7 p.m. are entitled to cast a ballot.

Voters may check their voter registration and polling place by visiting GoVoteMissouri.com, scrolling down to the “For Voters” box and clicking “Check Your Registration”. Voters can report any registration or voting problems to their local election authority; contact information can be found at sos.mo.gov/lea.

Voters are encouraged to educate themselves on the candidates and issues that will appear on their ballot. Local election authorities provide sample ballots, which voters can study, fill out, and bring with them on Election Day to use as a guide.

Know the Polling Place Rules
Missouri voters should be aware of Election Day laws. Missouri election law (115.637 RSMo.) prohibits wearing political apparel to the polls, advocating for a candidate or issue within 25 feet of a polling place, or taking photos of ballots.

“We urge voters to leave political masks, t-shirts, hats, buttons and other apparel at home,” Ashcroft said.

Election Night Reporting: What to Expect
The Secretary of State’s Election Night Reporting site is available at enr.sos.mo.gov and will be updated throughout the night as local election authorities report results. The site will begin showing results once all voters have finished casting ballots.

Local election authorities may begin posting results prior to those results appearing on the Election Night Reporting site.

Election data such as the number of registered voters, the number of absentee/mail-in ballots cast, and historical election data can be found in the media toolkit provided at sos.mo.gov/mediatoolkit.

Safety at the Polls
Local election officials are preparing polling places to provide space between voters and poll workers, and providing other safeguards, like hand sanitizer, face masks and face shields for poll workers. Other options are available, too. Curb-side voting is also available; call your local election official for details.

“I want to assure Missouri voters that their local election authorities are taking many precautions to make voting in person safe and secure,” Ashcroft said. “My office has distributed $4.5 million and provided them with sanitizer, floor distancing strips, face masks, face shields and other items to assist with creating a safe voting environment. Voting in person is the most secure way to cast a ballot and make your voice heard.”

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Missouri Secretary of State John R. Ashcroft
October 19, 2020
Contact: Maura Browning

Ashcroft Preparing Missouri’s Election Defenses

Jefferson City, Mo. — Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft is working with national, state and local leaders to bolster the state’s defenses in the lead up to the Nov. 3 general election.

“With a momentous presidential election fast approaching, we are strengthening our defenses against the serious threats of cyberattacks, foreign interference and disinformation campaigns,” Ashcroft said. “Our office is working hand-in-hand with federal, state and local officials to safeguard the integrity of Missouri’s elections.”

On election night and days leading up to it, the Secretary of State’s Office will join officials from the Department of Defense, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the National Security Council, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, along with state partners from the Department of Public Safety and the Office of Administration’s Information Technology Services Division. The collective team of federal and state officials acts as a firewall, monitoring and assessing potential threats and sharing accurate information with federal, state and local leaders.

The Secretary of State’s Office maintains contact with the state’s fusion centers, including the Missouri Information Analysis Center, which serves as an information sharing and analysis hub for the entire state. The office also works with the Multi-State Information and Analysis Center and the Elections Infrastructure Information and Analysis Center.

“We have developed strong working relationships with federal and state authorities and have collaborated with them on a number of exercises aimed at strengthening Missouri’s election defenses,” Ashcroft said. “We’ve also used federal funds to assist Missouri’s election authorities in evaluating and improving their security.”

Since 2018, the Secretary of State’s Office has obtained federal grants of more than $15 million through the Help America Vote Act. Since then, the office has used the funds to help local election authorities improve both their physical and cyber security.

While federal, state and local officials are taking steps to monitor and improve election security, some cyberattacks target Missouri voters directly. Security experts recommend voters take precautions by being careful what links they click, going to trusted sources for election information, and verifying the sources of news and information shared from media outlets or social media platforms.

The Secretary of State’s website stands as a reliable source for trusted election information. It also details some of the state’s election security practices that help ensure the safety of Missouri’s elections.

“We’ve been working hard to maintain the integrity of our systems,” Ashcroft said. “We’re proud to carry on that hard work so that Missourians can continue to be confident in their elections.”

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Missouri Secretary of State John R. Ashcroft
September 15, 2020
Contact: Maura Browning

Ashcroft Secures 25,000 Face Masks for November Election

Jefferson City, Mo. — Making good on his promises, Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft has secured 25,000 face masks to be delivered to local election authorities for the November 3 General Election. In a joint release, Ashcroft announced that Patriot Medical Devices, located in Cape Girardeau, is supplying the 3-ply, disposable face masks, manufactured in Missouri with American-made materials.

“Voting in person will be safe in November,” Ashcroft said. “Using creativity and the buying power of state government, my office is continuing to deliver on our promise to provide protective equipment for polling places in November. Missouri has already held three elections during the COVID-19 pandemic, and our local election authorities know what works to keep polling places safe.”

“We are proud to provide our masks to our home state and to be a part of ensuring safe elections here in Missouri," said Tyler Needham, Patriot’s president.

In May, Ashcroft’s office distributed $4.5 million in federal CARES funding and a required state match to local election authorities to prepare for the 2020 elections. Later that month, Ashcroft personally visited each one of Missouri’s 116 election jurisdictions, delivering 17,000 face masks, 17,000 face shields, 40,000 yellow floor distancing strips, 16,000 posters encouraging physical distancing and 500 gallons of hand sanitizer.

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Missouri Secretary of State John R. Ashcroft
August 13, 2020
Contact: Maura Browning

St. Louis’ Anheuser-Busch Donating Hand Sanitizer for November Elections for Use Across the United States

Jefferson City, Mo. — According to a release from the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS), St. Louis-based brewer Anheuser-Busch is producing and donating more than eight million ounces of hand sanitizer to polling locations across the United States for this November’s General Election.

“Missouri’s local election authorities have benefited from partnerships with a wide variety of companies and organizations, and this type of support from one of America’s most long-standing companies is another example of the cooperation and generosity that makes America truly unique,” said Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft. “I am proud that one of the economic anchors of St. Louis is showing the U.S. what it means to do business in the ‘Show-Me State’.”

After consultation with Missouri’s local election officials, Ashcroft requested 1,050 gallons and 5,600 (8-oz.) bottles of hand sanitizer for use in polling places across the state in November. Prior to the June election, which was postponed from April 7 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, McCormick Distilling Company in Weston, Mo. donated 1,000 bottles of hand sanitizer that was later personally delivered to local election authorities by Ashcroft in May.

Ashcroft drove more than 5,000 miles and visited all 116 election jurisdictions. He delivered 17,000 face masks, 17,000 face shields, more than 500 gallons of sanitizer, 40,000 floor strips for physical distancing and 16,000 posters that encouraged six feet of distance between voters. At the same time, his office began distributing $4.5 million to local election authorities allowing funding for them to meet their jurisdiction’s individual needs. More recently, the office shipped 4,900 more face masks at the request of some election officials.

In coordination with NASS, the National Association of State Election Directors (NASED) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Anheuser-Busch will distribute the hand sanitizer to state election offices that have requested it to help ensure the safety of voters and poll workers throughout the election process. Ashcroft recently served on the Executive Committee of NASS and his co-directors of elections are members of NASED.

Contact information for local election officials may be found on the Secretary of State’s website at https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/goVoteMissouri/localelectionauthority. Voting information can be found online at www.GoVoteMissouri.com.            

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