State Rep. Peggy McGaugh is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where the Carrollton Republican spoke with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about what’s next for absentee voting in Missouri.

McGaugh also discussed her reaction to Gov. Mike Parson’s State of the State speech, including the impending expansion of Medicaid.

Here’s what McGaugh had to say during the show:

• 2021 may be the best year to make changes to the absentee ballot process after scores of people voted early last year due to COVID-19 concerns. McGaugh has sponsored legislation in the past that would allow someone to vote in-person absentee without an excuse.
• Many local election officials have panned Missouri’s excuse system, noting that it’s basically impossible to prove that someone is not telling the truth when explaining why they’re voting absentee.
• She also talked about how her colleagues will approach Medicaid expansion, which is now required thanks to a 2020 constitutional amendment that voters approved. McGaugh serves on a budget committee that will handle the expansion.

McGaugh represents the 39th House District in northwest Missouri, which takes in Carroll, Ray and Chariton counties. She was first elected in 2018 to succeed her son Joe Don McGaugh, who resigned from the House after being appointed to a judgeship.

Before getting elected, McGaugh served six four-year terms as Carroll County’s clerk — making her one of the longest tenured local elections officials in the state. In 2009, she served as president of the Missouri Association of Counties and has also served as treasurer for the Missouri Association of County Clerks and Election Authorities.

Follow Jason Rosenbaum on Twitter: @jrosenbaum

Follow Peggy McGaugh on Twitter: @PeggyMcGaughR39