Show-Me State Times

The voter transparency website VoteRef.com, run by the Voter Reference Foundation, is growing in popularity in the United States. The goal of the online voter registration database is to boost transparency by maintaining an updated file of registered voters and their information.

The VRF recently confirmed that Missouri has been added to VoterRef.com.

“It is the mission of the Voter Reference Foundation to ensure transparent, accurate and fair elections in the United States,” said VRF Executive Director, Gina Swoboda,in a May 31 press release. “Publishing voter registration data increases transparency which will help to restore public confidence."

On May 31, the VRF finalized its addition of Missouri to its online voter registration database, the release stated. The latest addition ups the total number of U.S. states to 25, in addition to the District of Columbia. Missouri joins Rhode Island and Washington as the newest additions to the database.

The VRF believes voter list transparency is a major factor toward increasing the public's faith in the results of elections, the release stated. Its database is the first of its kind to utilize open-source information to track voter maintenance issues on a national scale. With the goal of eventually including all 50 states, VRF hopes each state can maintain voter records 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Through the process of reviewing certified election data, the database has the capacity to show possible discrepancies, according to the release. Discrepancies indicate the need for improved record keeping and accountability.