JEFFERSON CITY – No support from the top for noexcuse absentee voting and full support for photo voter identification are among takeaways from Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s session with media members during Missouri Press Day at the Capitol last week. This year’s meeting took place online via Zoom, with the press asking questions as surrogates for readers. ABSENTEE VOTING This newspaper pointed out to Ashcroft that Missouri allowed expanded absentee voting in the last election, including in Clay and Ray counties, thanks in part to Rep. Peggy McGaugh’s efforts. This led to the question: “How does this tie in to your position on no-excuse absentee voting? Should it be allowed?” “I’m not a fan of it,” Ashcroft said. He rejected convenience as a reason to vote absentee. “A lot of people talk about voting and they talk about convenience. I think that voting should be easy, and it is easy to vote in Missouri,” he said. “But when I think you’re about talking about convenience, that…