Buchanan County Clerk defends Missouri election integrity

ST. JOSEPH, Mo (KQTV) -- The Aug. 4 Primary Election is approaching quickly with several issues to appear on ballots.

Two of the main talking points include changing the initiative petition process through Amendment 4 and eliminating state income tax that would allow lawmakers to expand sales and use taxes through Amendment 5.

Mary Baack-Garvey, the Buchanan County Clerk, shared her thoughts on why primary elections are so important in the state of Missouri.

"The primaries are important because it's a midterm election and you're electing people to get to November," Baack-Garvey said.

President Donald Trump recently called the American election system into question during his Primetime Address.

However, Baack-Garvey has defended the election system here in Missouri.

"I think in Buchanan County and the state of Missouri, our elections are maintained perfectly," Baack-Garvey said. "Every county, 114 of us, we check the voter records, the deaths, we do everything daily to make sure everything is up to date."

No-excuse absentee voting opened up in Missouri on Tuesday.