HCS HB 845 -- VOTER REGISTRATION

SPONSOR:  Tilley (Dixon)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
General Laws by a vote of 6 to 1.

This substitute requires the Office of the Secretary of State to
request the database of all applicants for hunting and fishing
licenses from the Department of Conservation on a monthly basis
beginning September 1, 2007.  The Secretary of State is required
to compare the license applicant list against the database of
registered voters and to mail a voter registration application to
any applicant who is an eligible, nonregistered voter.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Cost on General Revenue Fund of $69,627
in FY 2008, $71,967 in FY 2009, and $74,126 in FY 2010.
Estimated Cost on Other State Funds of Less than $100,000 in FY
2008, FY 2009, and FY 2010.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill expands voter rights
and is an integral part of the democratic process.  Currently,
Missouri citizens can register to vote simultaneously while
applying for a driver's license.  The bill makes registering to
vote easier by making voter registration applications available
through contact with the Department of Conservation.  The bill
could expand voting to 1.2 million fishers and 900,000 hunters
and trappers.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Dixon; and National
Rifle Association of America.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill say that the Department of
Conservation's point-of-sale permit database conducts 2.6 million
transactions per year.  Many third-party vendors partner with the
department to make the permits available.  If the 1,300 business
partners are required to take on additional administrative
duties, including taking custody of voter applications and
advising applicants of their right to register, the businesses
are less likely to participate in the permit vendor program.

Testifying on the bill was Department of Conservation.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:20 am