The Republican Primary Election Challenge Alleging "Voting Irregularities" In Hindsight

Published by Dick Schaefer, Award-winning, Unpaid, Part-time Contributing Writer and Amateur Investigative Reporter

Date:  8/31/2010

I continue to be bothered by the strategy chosen by Larry Miskel and his attorney P. Dennis Barks when they challenged the 16 vote margin in the recent Republican primary election for Gasconade County Presiding Commissioner.  When I read and reread RSMO 115.601 (copied and pasted hereinbelow), I conclude that the election challenge should have been based upon the "less than one percent difference in vote" (actually a 0.57% of the total votes cast - 2788) rather than upon alleged voting irregularities in certain precincts.  It seems to me there would have been much less "burden of proof" had the point of law regarding vote difference of less than one percent been pursued in the election contest rather than the allegation that "voting irregularities" had occurred in certain precincts.

You read the statute and tell me what you think it says.  If there are any attorneys out there, you are most welcome to comment.  What am I missing here?

115.601. Recount authorized when less than one percent difference in vote—recount, defined.—

1. Any contestant in a primary or other election contest who was defeated by less than one percent of the votes cast for the office and any contestant who received the second highest number of votes cast for that office if two or more are to be elected and who was defeated by less than one percent of the votes cast, or any person whose position on a question was defeated by less than one percent of the votes cast on the question, shall have the right to a recount of the votes cast for the office or on the question.
2. In cases where the candidate filed or the ballot question was originally filed with an electio authority as defined in section 115.015, such recount shall be requested in accordance with the provisions of section 115.531 or 115.577 and conducted under the direction of the court or the commissioner representing the court trying the contest according to the provisions of this subchapter.
3. In cases where the candidate filed or the ballot question was originally filed with the secretary of state, the defeated candidate or the person whose position on a question was defeated by less than one percent of the votes cast on the question shall be allowed a recount pursuant to this section by filing with the secretary of state a request for a recount stating that the person or the person’s position on a question was defeated by less than one percent of the votes cast. Such request shall be filed not later than seven days after certification of the election. The secretary of state shall notify all concerned parties of the filing of the request for a recount. The secretary of state shall authorize the election authorities to conduct a recount pursuant to this section if the requesting party or his position on a question was defeated by less than one percent of the votes cast. The secretary of state shall conduct and certify the results of the recount as the official results in the election within twenty days of receipt of the aforementioned notice of recount.
4. Whenever a recount is requested pursuant to subsection 3 of this section, the secretary of state shall determine the number of persons necessary to assist with the recount and shall appoint such persons equally from lists submitted by the contestant and the opponent who received more votes or a person whose position on a question received more votes than the contestant’s position on that question. Each person appointed pursuant to this section shall be a disinterested person and a registered voter of the area in which the contested election was held. Each person so appointed shall take the oath prescribed for and receive the same pay as an election judge in the jurisdiction where the person is registered. After being sworn not to disclose any facts uncovered by the recount, except those which are contained in the report, the contestant and the opponent who received more votes or a person whose position on a question received more votes than the contestant’s position on that question shall be permitted to be present in person or represented by an attorney at the recount and to observe the recount. Each recount shall be completed under the supervision of the secretary of state with the assistance of the election authorities involved, and the persons appointed to assist with the recount shall perform such duties as the secretary of state directs. Upon completion of any duties prescribed by the secretary of state the persons appointed to assist with the recount shall make a written and signed report of their findings. The findings of the persons appointed to assist with the recount shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein, but any person present at the examination of the votes may be a witness to contradict the findings. No one other than the secretary of state, the election authorities involved, the contestant and the other witnesses described in this subsection, their attorneys, and those specifically appointed by the secretary of state to assist with the recount shall be present during any recount conducted pursuant to this section.
5. For purposes of this section, “recount” means one additional counting of all votes counted for the office or on the question with respect to which the recount is requested.

(L. 1977 H.B. 101 § 13.450, A.L. 1985 H.B. 620, A.L. 1993 S.B. 31, A.L. 1995 H.B. 484, et al., A.L. 1997 S.B. 132)