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Foreign observers fault partisan election officials

September 23, 2004
By: Bente Birkeland
State Capital Bureau

Foreign election officials weigh in on Missouri elections. Bente Birkeland reports from Jefferson City.

Story:
RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

A delegation of international election officials visited Jefferson City as part of a two week investigation of U.S. election procedures. Terence Humphreys is a British election official who has monitored elections in Africa and Europe.

He says there is a conflict of interest in Missouri elections. The Republican candidate for governor Matt Blunt is also the Secretary of State. In that job he's the chief election official for the entire state.

Actuality:
RunTime: Humphreys2
OutCue:
Contents: This idea that the election administration can be carried out by people who are also candidates for office is unique. It doesn't happen anywhere else in the world.

Humphreys says he's not here to tell people in Missouri what to do. He hopes to understand what happens in U.S. elections compared to the rest of the world.

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Foreign election officials investigate Missouri elections. Bente Birkeland reports from Jefferson City.

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OutCue: SOC

A delegation of international election officials visited Jefferson City as part of a two-week investigation of U.S. election procedures.

The group discussed Matt Blunt's dual role as the state's chief election officer and the Republican candidate for governor.

Damaso G. Magbua has observed elections in his native Phillipines for the last 21 years.

Actuality:
RunTime: Damaso1
OutCue:
Contents: If you are a candidate for any position you cannot possibly have any electoral function. Meaning to say, you don't play the game and then be apart of implementing the rules of the game

Magbua says Blunt's conflict of interest could influence Missouri election procedures.

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Foreign election officials rate Missouri elections. Bente Birkeland reports from Jefferson City.

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A delegation of international election officials visited Jefferson City as part of a two week investigation of U.S. election procedures.

One of the delegates, Pansy Tlakula is the chief election officer in South Africa. She says Missouri struggles with many of the same election problems as South Africa.

Actuality:
RunTime: PANSEY2
OutCue:
Contents: The whole issue of people moving without informing the electoral authorities that they are moving. The whole credibility of the voters lists.

Tlakula says Missouri's problems in the 2000 elections are one reason the delegates chose to visit the state.

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Foreign election officials question the credibility of Missouri elections. Bente Birkeland reports from Jefferson City.

Story:
RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

A delegation of international election officials visited Jefferson City as part of a two week investigation of U.S. election procedures.

One of the delegates, Pansy Tlakula is the chief election officer in South Africa.

She says she's surprised Matt Blunt can serve as the chief election official in the state when he's the Republican candidate for governor.

Actuality:
RunTime: PANSEY2
OutCue:
Contents: You have the bipartisan processes and you feel they provide necessary safeguards against the partisanship but it is quite unusual.

Tlakula says the test for Missouri will be whether voters accept the credibility of the elections results.