Will Missouri Officially Count Your Vote in November?

With a national election coming up in a matter of weeks Missouri voters need make sure to not be passive about their vote being in and counted.

Last week four Missouri Representatives sent a letter to the Postmaster General of the United States asking for the Inspector General of the U.S. Post Office audit the sorting and distribution center in Hazelwood, Mo. which handles mail for the eastern portion of the Show-Me state.

The concern is inconsistent delivery and delays for rural Missouri residents. How many times have you been waiting on an item, a legal document, a prescription that has magically gotten “Delayed at the processing center in St. Louis”?

Generally it’s a nuisance, and not something that only occurs in St. Louis, but with Hazelwood that being a big distribution hub for this part of the country the facility needs to figure out where their issues are and how to correct them.

Missouri had its primary August 5^th and absentee ballots that were postmarked in July weren’t delivered in time to be counted. That’s a problem. Voting issues that can come down to a handful of votes locally shouldn’t be decided because of poor postal service.

As a citizen you have a right to vote. But if your absentee ballot is “Delayed at the processing center in St. Louis” it won’t be counted if it isn't delivered in time. So even though you exercised your right to vote the system to get that ballot counted has failed you, the state and the entire process.

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Complicating the issue is increasing prices for decreasing service. In the private sector the market tends to handle these things. If a business can’t deliver on its promises you find another business that can. When it comes to the public sector that’s not a factor. Poor service from government agencies tend to just be reality. At the very least it shouldn’t be a concern that it may affect elections.

Missouri Representatives: Sam Graves, Blaine Luetkemeyer, Jason Smith and Ann Wagner want to make sure that their constituents that have brought this to their attention are advocated for as they are concerned that "a two-tiered mail system, wherein rural Americans are treated like second class citizens and subject to even more egregious delays."

"a two-tiered mail system wherein rural Americans are treated
like second class citizens and subject to even more egregious delays"

Post Master General Louis DeJoy responded Monday saying that the Postal Service will be ready for the influx of mail in ballots and is increasing training for employees and will also be in contact with election officials so that a repeat of primary season doesn't occur.

If you are voting absentee in Missouri for November and that absentee ballot has to go through the Hazelwood facility, send it as early as you can to give your vote the best chance to be delivered and counted.