PRESS RELEASE from Missouri Secretary of State

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Contact: Ryan Hobart, (573) 526-4734
Contact: Mindy Mazur, (573) 522-9756

Jefferson City, Missouri -- Despite the unfriendly weather throughout the day, many Missourians still found the time to get out and cast their vote on Tuesday in one of the most watched Presidential Primary races in decades. A record turnout was expected in Missouri, and voters did not disappoint.

36 percent of Missouri's registered voters participated in the election, as more than 1.4 million voters cast ballots in the Presidential Primary, based on unofficial county results. The 2008 Presidential Primary set records for turnout surpassing 2004 totals by approximately 870,000 votes and 2000 totals by nearly 670,000 votes.

"Missouri voters captured the attention of the nation last night as we came out in record-setting numbers," said Carnahan. "Elections in Missouri always keep us on the edge of our seats until the very end – and yesterday was no exception. As Missouri's chief elections official, I'm inspired by the overwhelming excitement evident by Missouri’s historic voter turnout."

Thanks to the hard work of Missouri's 116 local election officials, the voting process overall went very smoothly across the state.

Secretary Carnahan's website garnered national praise last night with the advent of the new Election Night Report system interactive maps. To view Missouri's unofficial election results on these maps, visit:

http://www.sos.mo.gov/enrMaps/

The Missouri Presidential Preference Primary results will be certified no later than four weeks from Election Day. Delegates for each party's presidential nomination are determined by the state parties.

Missouri's Primary election is then on August 5, 2008 and the general election will be held on November 4, 2008.

Watch for a video message from Secretary Carnahan to Missourians about the record-setting Presidential Primary.

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