CCS#2 SCS HCS HB 1557 & 1489 -- ELECTIONS

This bill makes numerous changes in deadlines and other
provisions related to elections. The changes are as follows:

(1)  The deadline for holding a special election to fill a
vacancy in the office of sheriff is changed from the eighth
Tuesday or sooner after the vacancy occurs to the tenth Tuesday
or sooner.

(2)  The date by which the city clerk provides the election
authority with a certified copy of the legal notice to be
published calling for a question on a grant of a utility
franchise or contract is changed from the eighth Tuesday prior
to an election to the tenth Tuesday prior.

(3)  The deadline for an officer calling an election to notify
the election authority is changed from the eighth Tuesday prior
to an election to the tenth Tuesday prior to an election or to
within 7 working days after candidate names are certified to the
officer, whichever is later.

(4)  Under current law if an opening and closing date for filing
for an office in a political subdivision or special district is
not specified in law, then the opening filing date is the
thirteenth Tuesday prior to the election and the closing of
filing is the ninth Tuesday.  These deadlines are changed to the
fifteenth Tuesday prior to the election for the opening of
filing and to the eleventh Tuesday prior to the election for the
close of filing.

(5)  New residents who move to the state after the deadline to
register to vote may make application and vote for president and
vice-president between the day after the deadline to register
and 7 p.m. on election day.  Current law provides only a 19-day
period.

(6)  Under current law absentee ballots are to be printed by the
sixth Tuesday prior to an election or within 14 days after
candidate names are certified to the election authority.  The
change eliminates the 14 day deadline.

(7)  The fifth day prior to an election day is established as
the date when election authorities in jurisdictions using
electronic voting systems may start preparation of absentee
ballots for tabulations.  Currently, absentee ballot preparation
for tabulation may not occur until election day or the day
before the election.

(8)  Current law requires the Secretary of State or the election
authority to make a determination of the validity of any
petition by the seventh Tuesday prior to a general election.
This deadline is changed to the eleventh Tuesday prior to the
election.

(9)  The deadline for withdrawing as a nominated candidate from
the general election is changed from the eighth Tuesday prior to
the general election to the eleventh Tuesday prior.

(10)  The deadline is changed from the seventh Tuesday prior to
the general election to the eighth Tuesday prior for
certification of the name of a candidate selected by a party
nominating committee to fill a vacancy created by withdrawal.

(11)  The state committee of each party whose name will appear
on the ballot is required to submit a party emblem to the
Secretary of State to be placed on the ballot.  The deadline for
submitting the party emblem is changed from the tenth Tuesday
prior to an election to the twelfth Tuesday prior.

(12)  The state committee of each party is required to certify
in writing to the Secretary of State the names of its nominees
for president and vice president of the United States.  The
deadline for submitting the names is changed from the tenth
Tuesday prior to an election to the twelfth Tuesday prior to an
election or to within 7 working days after a party chooses its
nominee for president and vice president, whichever is later.

(13)  The date by which the Secretary of State is required to
send each election authority a certified list of candidates
eligible to be voted on at the general election is changed from
the eighth Tuesday prior to the general election to the tenth
Tuesday prior to the general election.

(14)  Under current law contested primary election cases must be
concluded no later than the seventh Tuesday prior to the general
election.  This deadline is changed to the tenth Tuesday prior
to the general election.

(15)  If only one candidate files for a vacancy of committeeman
or committeewoman, then no election will be held and the
election authority will certify the person who filed as
elected.  Additionally, if no one files for a county committee
vacancy, then no election will be held and the county committee
will select a person to fill the vacancy.  These provisions will
only apply in counties where no filing fee is required.  St.
Louis County, Jackson County, and the City of St. Louis require
a filing fee.

(16)  Persons running for or serving as a county committee
member may consolidate all campaign disclosure filing with the
committee members' ward organizations.  All limits and
restrictions applicable to candidates will still apply and any
consolidated report must identify the amount and source of any
funds received or spent on behalf of a committee member.

(17)  County clerks are allowed to provide an absentee voter
with the nonpartisan portion of a ballot if the voter fails to
respond to the request of the clerk to provide a political party
designation.

(18)  Municipal primary elections may be held in February or
March but not both.  October is eliminated as a date when public
elections may be held and November elections are not restricted
to presidential primary years.  School districts, however, may
hold elections in June and may hold special levy elections on
municipal primary dates and municipalities may hold August
election in nonprimary years.

(19)  Current law permits a child under the age of 12 to be
admitted to a polling place.  The qualifying age is increased to
under 18.  Persons designated to administer a simulated youth
election are permitted in a polling place.  An oath is to be
taken by each person designated by the election authority to
administer a simulated youth election.  Election authorities are
given authority to prevent interference with the election
process by any youth election administrator.

(20)  Campaign funds received by a candidate and for the
candidate campaign committee may be transferred to the candidate
debt retirement committee authorized by law until December 31,
1996.

(21)  A program for absentee voting by persons with permanent
disabilities is established.  Such persons will be able to
receive absentee ballots by mail for all elections during the
year after registering with the county clerk.

(22)  Boundary adjustments approved by residential property
owners and the governing bodies of affected municipalities or
counties will not be subject to review by the boundary
commission.

(23)  Specific data fields are established for the statewide
electronic voter registration program.  Copies of voter
registration data will be made available to interested persons
for a fee established by rule by the Secretary of State.

(24)  Electronic filing of campaign finance and financial
interest disclosure reports is established beginning in 1998.
This includes monthly lobbying reports and all other reports
required to be filed by lobbyists, representatives, senators,
and statewide office holders.  Public electronic access to
campaign finance reports must be maintained in a way that
permits a person to obtain information on contributions to and
expenditures on behalf of any public official.

(25)  An obsolete requirement of the disclosure of contributions
is repealed.

The bill has an emergency clause.

HCS HB 1557, 1489 -- ELECTION DEADLINES (Days)

This substitute makes numerous changes in deadlines associated
with elections. The changes are as follows:

(1) The deadline for holding a special election to fill a
vacancy in the office of sheriff is changed from the eighth
Tuesday or sooner after the vacancy occurs to the tenth Tuesday
or sooner.

(2) The date by which the city clerk provides the election
authority with a certified copy of the legal notice to be
published calling for a question on a grant of a utility
franchise or contract is changed from the eighth Tuesday prior
to an election to the tenth Tuesday prior.

(3) The deadline for an officer calling an election to notify
the election authority is changed from the eighth Tuesday prior
to an election to the tenth Tuesday prior to an election or to
within seven working days after candidate names are certified to
the officer, whichever is later.

(4) If an opening and closing date for filing for an office in a
political subdivision or special district is not specified in
law, then the opening filing date is the thirteenth Tuesday
prior to the election and the closing of filing is the ninth
Tuesday.  These deadline are changed to the fifteenth Tuesday
prior to the election for the opening of filing and to the
eleventh Tuesday prior to the election for the close of filing.

(5) New residents who move to the state after the deadline to
register to vote may make application and vote for president and
vice-president between the day after the deadline to register
and 7 p.m. on election day.  Current law provides only a 19 day
period.

(6) Under current law absentee ballots are to be printed by the
sixth Tuesday prior to an election or within 14 days after
candidate names are certified to the election authority.  The
change eliminates the 14 day deadline.

(7) The fifth day prior to an election day is established as the
date when election authorities in jurisdictions using electronic
voting systems may start preparation of absentee ballots for
tabulations.  Currently, absentee ballot preparation for
tabulation may not occur until election day or the day before
the election.

(8) Current law requires the Secretary of State or the election
authority to make a determination of the validity of any
petition by the seventh Tuesday prior to a general election.
This deadline is changed to the eleventh Tuesday prior to the
election.

(9) The deadline for withdrawing as a nominated candidate from
the general election is changed from the eighth Tuesday prior to
the general election to the eleventh Tuesday prior.

(10) The deadline is changed from the seventh Tuesday prior to
the general election to the eighth Tuesday prior for
certification of the name of a candidate selected by a party
nominating committee to fill a vacancy created by withdrawal.

(11) The state committee of each party whose name will appear on
the ballot is required to submit a party emblem to the Secretary
of State to be placed on the ballot.  The deadline for
submitting the party emblem is changed from the tenth Tuesday
prior to an election to the twelfth Tuesday prior.

(12) The state committee of each party is required to certify in
writing to the Secretary of State the names of its nominees for
president and vice president of the United States.  The deadline
for submitting the names is changed from the tenth Tuesday prior
to an election to the twelfth Tuesday prior to an election or to
within 7 working days after choosing its nominee for president
and vice president, whichever is later.

(13) The date by which the Secretary of State is required to
send each election authority a certified list of candidates
eligible to be voted on at the general election is changed from
the eighth Tuesday prior to the general election to the tenth
Tuesday prior to the general election.

(14) Current law grants contested elections to have preference
in the order of hearing by a court with a deadline for
concluding such contest no later than the seventh Tuesday prior
to the general election.  This deadline is changed to the tenth
Tuesday prior to the general election.

(15)  If only one candidate files for a vacancy of committeeman
or committeewoman, then no election will be held and the
election authority will certify the person who filed as
elected.  Additionally, if no one files for a county committee
vacancy, then no election will be held and the county committee
will select a person to fill the vacancy.  These provisions will
only apply in counties where no filing fee is required.  St.
Louis County, Jackson County and the City of Saint Louis require
a filing fee.

(16)  Persons running for or serving as a county committee
member may consolidate all campaign discloser filing with the
committee members' ward organizations.  All limits and
restrictions applicable to candidates will still apply and any
consolidated report must identify the amount and source of any
funds received or spent on behalf of a committee person.

(17)  County clerks are allowed to provide an absentee voter
with the non-partisan portion of a ballot if the voter fails to
respond to the request of the clerk to provide a political party
designation.

(18) Reconsideration of a disapproved boundary change cannot
take place until 2 years after the disapproval by the voters.
Petitions for new boundary changes must be presented to the
commission within 280 days from the date the first signature was
placed on the petition.  These provisions apply to
unincorporated areas and areas considered for annexation.

(19) Municipal primary elections may be held in February or
March but not both.  June and October are eliminated as dates
when public elections may be held and November elections are not
restricted to presidential primary years.  School districts,
however, may hold elections in June and may hold special levy
elections on municipal primary dates.

(20) Cities and counties must wait 24 months before resubmitting
a vote for authorization to operate an excursion gambling boat
within the city or county.

(21) Any revision by the General Assembly of statutes concerning
excursion gambling boats which were originally approved by the
voters will not take effect until approved by the voters.

(22) Election authorities are required to update registered
voter lists monthly to remove the names of deceased voters as
reported by the Missouri Department of Health, Division of Vital
Statistics.

(23) A Missouri presidential preference primary is established
with rules similar to those of expired statutes.  It will be
held on the municipal election date in March beginning in the
year 2000.

The substitute has an emergency clause for all provisions except
19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 above.

FISCAL NOTE:  Cost to General Revenue Fund* of $0 in FY 97, FY
98 & FY 99.

*Long Range Impact:  presidential primary election cost would
not be realized until March 2000.  Election costs are estimated
to be $2,500,000 to the state's General Revenue Fund.

HCS HB 1557 & 1489 -- ELECTION DEADLINES

SPONSOR:  Days

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Elections
by a vote of 11 to 0

This substitute makes numerous changes in deadlines associated
with elections. The changes are as follows:

(1) The deadline for holding a special election to fill a
vacancy in the office of sheriff is changed from the eighth
Tuesday or sooner after the vacancy occurs to the tenth Tuesday
or sooner.

(2) The date by which the city clerk provides the election
authority with a certified copy of the legal notice to be
published calling for a question on a grant of a utility
franchise or contract is changed from the eighth Tuesday prior

to an election to the tenth Tuesday prior.

(3) The deadline for an officer calling an election to notify
the election authority is changed from the eighth Tuesday prior
to an election to the tenth Tuesday prior to an election.

(4) If an opening and closing date for filing for an office in a
political subdivision or special district is not specified in
law then the opening filing date is the thirteenth Tuesday prior
to the election and the closing of filing is the ninth Tuesday.
These deadline are changed to the fifteenth Tuesday prior to the
election for the opening of filing and to the eleventh Tuesday
prior to the election for the close of filing.

(5) New residents who move to the state after the deadline to
register to vote may make application and vote for president and
vice-president between the day after the deadline to register
and 7 p.m. on election day.  Current law provides only a 19 day
period.

(6) Under current law absentee ballots are to be printed by the
sixth Tuesday prior to an election or within 14 days after
candidate names are certified to the election authority.  The
change eliminates the 14 day deadline.

(7) The fifth day prior to an election day is established as the
date when election authorities in jurisdictions using electronic
voting systems may start preparation of absentee ballots for
tabulations.  Currently, absentee ballot preparation for
tabulation may not occur until election day or the day before
the election.

(8) Current law requires the Secretary of State or the election
authority to make a determination of the validity of any
petition by the seventh Tuesday prior to a general election.
This deadline is changed to the eleventh Tuesday prior to the
election.

(9) The deadline for withdrawing as a nominated candidate from
the general election is changed from the eighth Tuesday prior to
the general election to the eleventh Tuesday prior.

(10) The deadline is changed from the seventh Tuesday prior to

the general election to the eighth Tuesday prior for
certification of the name of a candidate selected by a party
nominating committee to fill a vacancy created by withdrawal.

(11) The state committee of each party whose name will appear on
the ballot is required to submit a party emblem to be placed on
the ballot to the Secretary of State.  The deadline for
submitting the party emblem is changed from the tenth Tuesday
prior to an election to the twelfth Tuesday prior.

(12) The state committee of each party is required to certify in
writing to the  Secretary of State the names of its nominees for
president and vice president of the United States.  The deadline
for submitting the names is changed from the tenth Tuesday prior
to an election to the twelfth Tuesday prior to an election.

(13) The date by which the Secretary of State is required to
send each election authority a certified list of candidates
eligible to be voted on at the general election is changed from
the eighth Tuesday prior to the general election to the tenth
Tuesday prior to the general election.

(14) Current law grants contested elections to have preference
in the order of hearing by a court with a deadline for
concluding such contest no later than the seventh Tuesday prior
to the general election.  This deadline is changed to the tenth
Tuesday prior to the general election.

(15) The substitute provides that municipal primary elections
may be held in February or March but not both.  June and October
are eliminated as dates when public elections may be held and
November elections are not restricted to presidential primary
years.  School districts may hold special levy elections on
municipal primary dates.

The substitute has an emergency clause for all provision except
the last.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters for HB 1557 say that changes of these
deadlines will enable the county clerks to better prepare for
elections.  The accuracy of ballots and providing absentee
voting will improve. Supporters of HB 1489 say reducing the
number of election dates will increase voter turnout and save
money.

Testifying for HB 1557 were Representative Days; County Clerks
of Laclede and Cole County; and Office of the Secretary of
State.  Testifying for HB 1489 were Representatives Levin and
Green; County Clerk of Boone County; and Nathan Harris, a high
school student from Jefferson City.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition to HB 1557.  Those who
oppose HB 1489 say that this bill would preempt charter powers
of certain cities and counties.  It would reduce the dates at
which schools could bring levy and bond issues to the voters and
as long as the 2/3 vote is required these dates are needed.

Testifying against HB 1489 were the School Administrators'
Coalition, City of Kansas City; Missouri State Teachers'
Association; and the Missouri School Boards' Association.

Anne Walker, Research Analyst

HB 1557 -- Election Deadlines

Sponsor:  Days

This bill makes numerous changes in deadlines associated with
elections. The changes are as follows:

(1) The deadline for holding a special election to fill a
vacancy in the office of sheriff is changed from the eighth
Tuesday or sooner after the vacancy occurs to the tenth Tuesday
or sooner.

(2) The date by which the city clerk provides the election
authority with a certified copy of the legal notice to be
published calling for a question on a grant of a utility
franchise or contract is changed from the eighth Tuesday prior

to an election to the tenth Tuesday prior.

(3) March is eliminated as a municipal primary election date and
the first Tuesday after the first Monday in February is
specified as municipal primary day.  If there are less than 10
weeks between the municipal primary and the general municipal
election, this  bill requires that candidates be certified to
the election authority not later than the second Tuesday after
the February election date.

(4) The deadline for an officer calling an election to notify
the election authority is changed from the eighth Tuesday prior
to an election to the tenth Tuesday prior to an election.

(5) If an opening and closing date for filing for an office in a
political subdivision or special district is not specified in
law then the opening filing date is the thirteenth Tuesday prior
to the election and the closing of filing is the ninth Tuesday.
These deadline are changed to the fifteenth Tuesday prior to the
election for the opening of filing and to the eleventh Tuesday
prior to the election for the close of filing.

(6) New residents who move to the state after the deadline to
register to vote may make application and vote for president and
vice-president between the day after the deadline to register
and 7 p.m. on election day.  Current law provides only a 19 day
period.

(7) Under current law absentee ballots are to be printed by the
sixth Tuesday prior to an election or within 14 days after
candidate names are certified to the election authority.  The
change eliminates the 14 day deadline.

(8) The fifth day prior to an election day is established as the
date when election authorities in jurisdictions using electronic
voting systems may start preparation of absentee ballots for
tabulations.  Currently, absentee ballot preparation for
tabulation may not occur until election day or the day before
the election.

(9) Current law requires the Secretary of State or the election
authority to make a determination of the validity of any
petition by the seventh Tuesday prior to a general election.
This deadline is changed to the eleventh Tuesday prior to the
election.

(10) The deadline for withdrawing as a nominated candidate from
the general election is changed from the eighth Tuesday prior to
the general election to the eleventh Tuesday prior.

(11) The deadline is changed from the seventh Tuesday prior to

the general election to the eighth Tuesday prior for
certification of the name of a candidate selected by a party
nominating committee to fill a vacancy created by withdrawal.

(12) The state committee of each party whose name will appear on
the ballot is required to submit a party emblem to be placed on
the ballot to the Secretary of State.  The deadline for
submitting the party emblem is changed from the tenth Tuesday
prior to an election to the twelfth Tuesday prior.

(13) The state committee of each party is required to certify in
writing to the  Secretary of State the names of its nominees for
president and vice president of the United States.  The deadline
for submitting the names is changed from the tenth Tuesday prior
to an election to the twelfth Tuesday prior to an election.

(14) The date by which the Secretary of State is required to
send each election authority a certified list of candidates
eligible to be voted on at the general election is changed from
the eighth Tuesday prior to the general election to the tenth
Tuesday prior to the general election.

(15) Current law grants contested elections to have preference
in the order of hearing by a court with a deadline for
concluding such contest no later than the seventh Tuesday prior
to the general election.  This deadline is changed to the tenth
Tuesday prior to the general election.