HB 511 -- Elections

Co-Sponsors:  Deeken, May, Cooper (120), Seigfreid, Jetton,
Wagner, Dempsey

This bill revises the election laws, predominately to facilitate
compliance with the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA).
In its main provisions, the bill:

(1)  Requires the Governor to appoint election commissioners who
are not of the same political party as the Governor from a list
submitted by the state committee of that party and authorizes the
Governor to appoint additional nonvoting representatives to the
boards of election commissioners (Section 115.027, RSMo);

(2)  Specifies that federal funds may be used also for loan
programs to the local election authorities and authorizes the
Secretary of State to allow, rather than require, local election
authorities to match the federal funds (Sections 115.074,
115.076, 115.098, and 115.801);

(3)  Establishes a fund within the state treasury for grants to
be used for election administration improvements and establishes
a revolving loan fund to be used for improving the administration
of elections through loans.  The bill also clarifies that the
money deposited in the Elections Administration Improvements Fund
may be transferred to the loan fund (Section 115.078);

(4)  Establishes a statewide pool for election judges and
requires election authorities, before appointing judges from
another jurisdiction, to obtain written consent from the election
authority of the jurisdiction where the prospective judges are
registered to vote.  In addition, employees of the state and
boards are allowed to serve as election judges (Section 115.085);

(5)  Clarifies that challengers and watchers must be registered
voters from the jurisdiction of the election authority for which
the challenger or watcher is designated (Sections 115.105 and
115.107);

(6)  Prohibits a court from ordering an issue or candidate placed
on the ballot less than six weeks prior to an election, except as
otherwise authorized by law (Section 115.125);

(7)  Includes technical changes from last year's bill (Sections
115.133, 115.135, and 115.277);

(8)  Adds information to the registration form as required by
Section 303(b)(4) of HAVA (Section 115.155);

(9)  Requires election authorities to forward to the Secretary of
State registration and other information in a manner that
complies with HAVA (Section 115.157);

(10)  Establishes the Missouri Voter Registration System to
comply with Section 303 of HAVA.  The bill also includes voter
registration verification provisions required by Section 303 of
HAVA, clarifies the meaning of "commercial purposes," and
specifies that local election authorities must forward data in
accordance with the requirements of HAVA (Section 115.158);

(11)  Adds provisions concerning identification requirements and
fail-safe voting for mail-in registrants as required by Section
303 of HAVA (Section 115.159);

(12)  Specifies when an election authority may send a voter
identification card to a post office box (Section 115.163);

(13)  Defines "overseas voter" (Section 115.275);

(14)  Makes changes relating to uniformed and overseas citizens
as required by Sections 703, 704, 705, and 707 of HAVA (Section
115.279);

(15)  Allows election authorities to deliver absentee ballots not
earlier than 10 weeks before an election.  Current law allows the
ballots to be delivered not earlier than six weeks (Section
115.284);

(16)  Clarifies language regarding confined voters, requires a
team to deliver absentee ballots to confined voters, and changes
the color of a stamp on the ballot envelope (Section 115.287);

(17)  Specifies that a special write-in absentee ballot may be
requested for special or primary federal elections in addition to
general elections (Section 115.292);

(18)  Adds language concerning voter education provisions as
required by Section 302(b) of HAVA (Section 115.417);

(19)  Clarifies that a provisional ballot cast at the wrong
polling place will not be counted as authorized by Section
302(a)(4) of HAVA; requires the Secretary of State to ensure that
a toll-free access system for provisional voters is established;
and addresses the handling of ballots for voters who vote after
the polls close, which is required by Section 302(c) of HAVA
(Section 115.430);

(20)  Specifies the correct month for the presidential primary
(Section 115.761);

(21)  Adds new language intended to facilitate fair ballot
language on statewide measures (Section 116.025); and

(22)  Designates the Secretary of State as the chief election
official responsible for the administration and coordination of
state responsibilities under HAVA; authorizes the Secretary of
State to appoint commission members, develop and submit plans,
set voting systems standards and compliance deadlines, and any
other activities reasonably necessary to comply with HAVA;
requires the Secretary of State to establish state-based
administrative complaint procedures to remedy grievances under
HAVA; and authorizes the Secretary of State to promulgate rules
to effectuate the provisions of this section (Section 1).

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated July 25, 2003 at 10:12 am