SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Voters narrowly approved a controversial measure requiring employers to use E-Verify to determine workers' elgibility.
With 80 of 82 precincts counted, the proposal - placed on the ballot by a citizen initiative - has received 8,247 yes votes to 8,026 no votes.
Greene County clerk Richard Struckhoff said votes in the remaining two precincts would not affect the outcome.
Jerry Wilson of the Ozarks Minutemen said he thought the results could have gone either way, but did expect a wider margin of victory.
Wilson and the Minutemen led the collection of signatures to bring the issue before the Springfield City Council last summer. A divided council opted to send the issue to voters.
Opponents - which included mayor Jim O'Neal and council members Cindy Rushefsky and Bob Stephens - said they were disappointed in the result, particularly since such a small portion of the community decided the issue. Turnout was less than 15 percent.
Council members may change or scrap the E-Verify law after six months, but only with a unanimous vote.
Wilson said his group was pleased by the outcome but they did not host a victory party Tuesday.
"We ask that any celebration be tempered by the seriousness of this issue. It was a contentious issue and it's an issue in which people of good conscience can disagree," Wilson said.
Both supporters and opponents acknowledge problems with the ordinance the way it is currently written. Prescribed fines for employers who fail to comply are in conflict with federal laws.
