Judge dismisses Missouri lawsuit that sought watchers at early voting

ST. CHARLES, Mo. — A Missouri judge on Friday denied a Republican committee member’s attempt to force the state’s third-largest county to do so allows spectators or challengers to observe early mood.

Judge Dewayne Johnson wrote that the document filed by St. Charles County Central Committee member Travis Allen Heins “does not meet the requirements” of a temporary restraining order. Johnson did not consider the merits of the case, but rejected the challenge because the text did not meet state legal standards.

“I am not a lawyer and have never claimed to be,” Heins told The Associated Press. He called the ruling disappointing but said his request “opens the conversation” about the need to clarify the role of observers and challengers during Missouri’s early voting period.

Kurt Bahr, St. Charles County elections director, welcomed the ruling.

“Election challengers from both political parties will be present at various polling places on Election Day, to the extent permitted by state law,” Bahr said in a statement. “We hope the Legislature can provide clarity on this issue during its next session.”

This is Missouri’s first no-excuse presidential election, and turnout was high in many places, including St. Charles County. Bahr expected 2,500 voters per day, but daily totals are often around 5,000. The county, in the suburbs of St. Louis, has a population of about 420,000.

Under Missouri law, any political party can name a challenger on the ballot for any polling place on Election Day. Heins’ petition argued that he should now be given the opportunity to observe because the ballots are only actually tabulated once voters enter them into a scanner.

“If election authorities deny the presence of a challenger or watcher, the security and transparency of the elections will be jeopardized,” Heins wrote in his petition.

Leaders of the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition said several people have been deterred from voting since the ban.