Wrap: St. Louis County Director of Elections Eric Fey said the ballot shortages St. Louis faced during its municipal elections April 5 occurred because of a lack of proofreading.

Fey told the House Committee on Urban Issues that the election commission actually had printed enough ballots, but did not have enough of the correct kind of ballots needed for the election.

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Description: "The problem was with a lack of proofing and a lack of, perhaps, following procedure by staff."

 

The issues with proofing came about after two villages in St. Louis County filed election certification late without the election commission updating the needed ballot information.

Reporting from the state Captiol, I'm Jill Ornitz.

Wrap: St. Louis County Director of Elections Eric Fey accepted responsibility for the ballot shortages that occured during municipal elections held April 5 but would not discuss potential personnel changes as a result of the error.

St. Louis County Republican Representative Shamed Dogan said much of the frustration expressed by St. Louis County residents and representatives on the House Special Committee on Urban Issues came from the appearance of inequity.

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Description: "Your predecessor was an African American woman. She was let go when there were issues in November of 2014, and the appearance is that there's a double standard."

Rita Days was removed from her post as director of elections following the November 2014 general election when ballots had to be flown into St. Louis County because of shortages in the area.

Reporting from the state Captiol, I'm Jill Ornitz.

Wrap: St. Louis County Director of Elections Eric Fey told the House Special Committee on Urban Issues that ballot shortages during municipal elections held earlier this month were the result of a lack of proofreading.

Jefferson City Republican Representative Jay Barnes said there are too many important elections coming up to dismiss leadership at this time.

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Description: "With important elections coming up in just five months, I think it would be a terrible decision to change leadership with that on the horizon."

Other committee members said that keeping election directors in their posts gives off the appearance of a double-standard, as former St. Louis County Director of Elections Rita Days was removed from her posts following ballot shortages in November of 2014.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Jill Ornitz.