SECOND REGULAR SESSION
93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE DEEKEN.
Read 1st time February 24, 2006 and copies ordered printed.
STEPHEN S. DAVIS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To repeal section 115.247, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to the number of ballots at polling places.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Section 115.247, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 115.247, to read as follows:
115.247. 1. Each election authority shall provide all ballots for every election within its jurisdiction. Ballots other than those printed by the election authority in accordance with sections 115.001 to 115.641 and [sections 51.450 and] section 51.460, RSMo, shall not be cast or counted at any election.
2. Whenever it appears that an error has occurred in any publication required by sections 115.001 to 115.641 and [sections 51.450 and] section 51.460, RSMo, or in the printing of any ballot, any circuit court may, upon the application of any voter, order the appropriate election authorities to correct the error or to show cause why the error should not be corrected.
3. For each election except a general election, the election authority shall provide for each polling place in its jurisdiction [fifty-five ballots for each fifty and fraction of fifty voters registered in the voting district at the time of the election] a number of ballots equal to at least one and one-third times the number of ballots cast in the voting district served by such polling place at the election held two years before at that polling place or at the polling place that served the voting district in the previous election. For each general election, the election authority shall provide for each polling place in its jurisdiction a number of ballots equal to at least one and one-third times the number of ballots cast in the voting district served by such polling place or at the polling place that served the voting district in the general election held four years prior. When determining the number of ballots to provide for each polling place, the election authority shall consider any factors that would affect the turnout at such polling place. The election authority shall keep a record of the exact number of ballots delivered to each polling place. For purposes of this subsection, the election authority shall not be required to count registered voters designated as inactive pursuant to section 115.193.
4. After the polls have closed on every election day, the election judges shall return all unused ballots to the election authority with the other election supplies. All unused ballots delivered to the election authority may be distributed by the election authority to schools in its jurisdiction. Before distribution, all unused ballots shall be stamped "void" or otherwise altered by the election authority.
5. All ballots cast in public elections shall be printed and distributed at public expense, payable as provided in sections 115.061 to 115.077.
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