electionlineWeekly — October 02, 2008
electionline.org
I. In Focus This Week
Secretaries of state positions up for grabs in six states
Four incumbents up for re-election, plenty of new faces on the ballot
By M. Mindy Moretti
electionline.org
The top election official job is up for grabs in six states in November:
Missouri
Democratic incumbent Robin Carnahan (D) will face two challengers on November 4. Carnahan was first
elected to office in 2004 by a wide margin of victory and has presided over an ongoing legislative and
judicial battle over voter photo ID, passed by lawmakers in the state but struck down by courts in 2006.
Her 2008 platform, according to her Web site is “… to ensure that our state’s elections are fair, accurate,
and secure. To do that, we must have well-trained poll workers. Before the 2006 election, my office
helped local election authorities recruit citizens to work at the polls on Election Day. We plan to do the
same thing for the elections in 2008.” [Carnahan did not respond to e-mailed questions]
Mitch Hubbard (R) a Fulton, Mo. businessman, is a proponent of voter ID, according to his Web site, and
is running to “…restore fairness and integrity to the office. The most critical part of the secretary of state’s
job is to make sure our elections are fair.” Hubbard added that, “the secretary of state is obligated to be a
neutral arbiter in all questions regarding election results and ballot initiatives.” [Hubbard did not respond
to e-mailed questions]
Wes Upchurch, a libertarian. is an Internet designer and business development professional. According to
Upchurch, one of the biggest issues facing Missouri elections today is low voter turnout due to lack of
choices. “This could easily be resolved by placing a "None of the Above" option on election ballots, so
that voters could show their disapproval of the choices they've been presented,” Upchurch said. He is
also a proponent of getting more young people involved in elections and voter ID. “We should imple