HS HCS SS SCS SB 675 -- ELECTIONS

This bill makes numerous changes to the election laws.  In its
main provisions, the bill:

(1)  Allows computerized voting systems to be certified for use
in Missouri;

(2)  Allows independent and third party members to serve as
election judges;

(3)  Prohibits employers from firing or disciplining employees
based on their service as election judges.  Employees may be
absent from work for the amount of time that the election
authority requires their service as election judges.  Employees
discharged in violation of this section may bring a civil action
against the employer for lost wages, reinstatement, and attorney
fees;

(4)  Allows caretakers of the disabled and elderly to vote by
absentee ballot;

(5)  Provides state grants, subject to appropriation, for
election judge compensation, for youth voting programs, and to
upgrade local election equipment, including accessible voting
equipment;

(6)  Removes from the ballot party committee races when only one
qualified candidate files;

(7)  Closes certain voter registration records by court order if
the voter's safety is at issue;

(8)  Allows international election observers to have access to
polling places;

(9)  Allows persons in federal service to return absentee ballots
by electronic means;

(10)  Prohibits use of the butterfly ballot, except in certain
circumstances;

(11)  Requires that voting instructions be clearly posted at all
polls;

(12)  Gives local election authorities in jurisdictions with less
than 750 registered voters the option to mail out sample ballots
to voters.  Current law only allows this in jurisdictions with
less than 500 registered voters;

(13)  Extends the time period allowed for testing voting
equipment from five to 14 days;

(14)  Requires all election authorities to establish an advance
voting period for general elections in presidential election
years.  The advance voting period will begin 14 days before an
election and end on the Wednesday immediately before an election.
The election authority must establish and post the hours and
locations for advance voting;

(15)  Requires voter registration agencies under the National
Voter Registration Act to submit registration applications within
five days of completion;

(16)  Requires election authorities to accept absentee ballot
applications by facsimile transmission;

(17)  Prohibits certain persons who register to vote by mail from
voting by absentee ballot until they have first voted in person
and presented proper identification at a polling place;

(18)  Allows the Secretary of State to develop multilingual
sample ballots and voting instructions;

(19)  Establishes provisional voting in primary and general
elections and in elections in which statewide issues are on the
ballot.  A voter who claims to be registered but whose
eligibility cannot be confirmed may cast a provisional ballot,
which will be counted if the election authority determines that
the voter is registered;

(20)  Requires the election authority in St. Louis County to
reapportion the county into 28 contiguous and nearly equally
populated townships;

(21)  Changes the date of the presidential primary from the first
Tuesday after the first Monday in March to the first Tuesday
after the first Monday in February;

(22)  Requires that the nominating committees for special
elections to fill vacancies in the General Assembly after
redistricting but before the new districts come into effect be
from the old districts.  Under current law, the nominating
committees that select the candidates for those special elections
are comprised from the new districts;

(23)  Allows Kansas City to designate one of the four election
authorities situated partially or wholly within Kansas City as
the verification board to certify election results within the
city;

(24)  Requires that absentee ballots for persons with permanent
disabilities be delivered not earlier than six weeks before an
election but prior to the fourth Tuesday prior to an election;
and

(25)  Requires that voters, before receiving a ballot, present
some form of personal identification from a list including
government-issued identification; identification issued from an
institution of higher learning; driver's license; or a copy of a
current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or other
government document that contains the name and address of the
voter.

The bill contains an emergency clause for political committee
elections.  That provision will be effective upon the date of its
approval or July 1, 2002, whichever is later.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated October 11, 2002 at 9:04 am