HCS HB 948 -- VOTING RIGHTS

SPONSOR:  May (Cooper, 158)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Elections
by a vote of 6 to 5.

This substitute changes the laws regarding elections.  In its
main provisions, the substitute:

(1)  Prohibits any compensation based on the number of voters
registered or registration applications collected and submitted
by a person.  Persons who collect registration applications are
prohibited from destroying, defacing, or concealing them, and any
registration application collected by a person must be submitted
to the election authority within seven days.  Any violation of
these provisions is a class four election offense (Section
115.203, RSMo);

(2)  Requires persons who are compensated for soliciting more
than 10 voter registration applications to register with the
Secretary of State as voter registration solicitors and provide
certain personal information.  Failure to register or providing
false information is a class three election offense (Section
115.205);

(3)  Establishes procedures for filing complaints with the
Secretary of State alleging violations of the Help America Vote
Act of 2002 and for the Secretary of State to investigate the
complaints.  If a violation is identified, the Secretary of State
will determine and provide the appropriate remedy (Section
115.219);

(4)  Requires voters whose names have been removed from the
registration records to file judicial appeals within certain time
limits (Section 115.223);

(5)  Makes the list of persons applying for an absentee ballot
confidential and the disclosure of this information a class four
election offense (Section 115.289);

(6)  Establishes procedures to determine a voter's eligibility to
vote at a given polling place and, if eligibility cannot be
determined in a timely manner, authorizes the voter to cast a
provisional ballot after completing an affidavit.  Procedures are
detailed for handling, verifying, accepting or rejecting, and
counting provisional ballots.  State courts do not have
jurisdiction to extend polling hours, but certain state officials
have authority to extend the hours during a declared statewide
emergency (Section 115.430);

(7)  Establishes standards for counting ballots in jurisdictions
using punch card, optical scan, and paper ballot voting systems
and for determining voter intent.  Write-in stickers are allowed
under certain circumstances (Section 115.456);

(8)  Prohibits electioneering or conducting exit polls within 50
feet of a polling place instead of the current 25 feet (Section
115.637); and

(9)  Repeals Section 115.126 authorizing election authorities to
implement an advanced voting system.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Cost on General Revenue Fund of $12,500
to Unknown in FY 2006, $15,450 to Unknown in FY 2007, and $15,914
to Unknown in FY 2008.  No impact on Other State Funds in FY
2006, FY 2007, and FY 2008.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill codifies many practices
that are already done by rule.

Testifying for the bill was Representative Cooper (158).

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill say they have concerns
regarding the registration of voter registration solicitors and
would like to see a "do not call" list included for persons
voting by absentee.

Others testifying on the bill were League of Women Voters of
Missouri; and Office of the Secretary of State.

Julie Jinkens McNitt, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated August 25, 2005 at 1:21 pm