Secretary of State Denny Hoskins of Missouri, who campaigned on the idea that hand-counting ballots is the most effective way to determine election outcomes, did not include funding for additional employees to handle such a process in his proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. This decision surprised Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Lincoln Hough, who expected Hoskins to deliver on his campaign promises. While Hoskins acknowledged that he cannot mandate hand-counting ballots, he said he would support counties if they choose to do so.
Some senators expressed concerns about Hoskins’ stance on hand-counting versus electronic counting, especially since he has voiced skepticism about voting machines similar to former President Donald Trump’s election misinformation. Despite these concerns, Hoskins recently showcased the technology used in Missouri’s elections in a public demonstration at the Capitol, emphasizing the importance of secure election equipment for accurate and reliable results.
While Hoskins continues to express reservations about voting machines, the state mandates paper ballots counted by certified machines for accuracy. The proposed budget, which does not include funding for hand-counting ballots, did not receive immediate action from the committee. Critics, including other senators, have raised doubts about Hoskins’ stance on hand-counting ballots, citing the potential for errors, increased costs, and delayed results associated with manual counting methods.
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