Some Missouri counties reject voting change for Private Company to Create Voter Database

• Noren fears local effects of federal act 

Election officials from across Missouri recently met with a consulting firm that will create an $11 million central database that aims to eliminate voter fraud and errors in registration. The system - mandated by the Help America Vote Act passed by Congress in response to the 2000 election chaos - would allow officials of all the counties in the state to share the names of registered voters. State departments of motor vehicles and revenue, as well as other state agencies that register voters, would be tied into the system. Boone County Clerk Wendy Noren said the recent gathering allowed her and election officials from five of the state's largest counties to provide input on what the statewide system should include. Boone, Jackson and St. Louis counties would be among a handful of Missouri counties that could be allowed to opt out of the new system because many of them already have more sophisticated registration systems. Gov.-elect and Secretary of State Matt Blunt has maintained that all counties should use the new system. But that decision will fall to Blunt's successor as secretary of state, Robin Carnahan, who will be sworn in Jan. 10. Noren said the centralized database is "such a waste of the taxpayers' money." She contends implementing such a database in Boone County would reverse progress here by about eight years. "If I've got a system that's over and above, why go out and buy all these printers, computers, PCs and networks that aren't as good as what I've got?" [more]