Kurt Bahr on St. Charles Election Recount Battle, Hand Counts vs Machines, and Voting System Costs

Hour 3 continues with an interview featuring Kurt Bahr discussing the tied St. Charles City Council race that resulted in a winner being selected by drawing names, followed by a legal challenge seeking a full recount. Bahr explains Missouri election law requirements for recounts, including court authorization, mandatory 5% audits, and how absentee ballots and all precincts would be reviewed if a judge orders it. He details the estimated cost of a recount process and clarifies that the winning candidate remains seated unless a recount changes the outcome. The conversation expands into election administration practices, with Bahr defending the current system that uses electronic ballot tabulators paired with mandatory manual audits for accuracy and efficiency. He contrasts this with full hand-count systems, noting significantly higher labor costs and delays, especially in high-turnout elections. The discussion also covers transparency efforts in St. Charles County, including public education initiatives, expanded early voting access, and plans for an upcoming public “open house” event allowing residents to observe and interact with the election process. The segment closes with broader debate over modern voting technology versus historical hand-count methods and the practical challenges of scaling elections in growing counties. Hashtags: #KurtBahr #StCharles #ElectionRecount #VotingSystems #ElectionIntegrity #MissouriPolitics #Ballots #HandCount #LocalElections #Democracy