HCS HJR 9 -- ELECTIONS AND VOTING RIGHTS

SPONSOR:  Deeken (Cox)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Elections
by a vote of 7 to 5.

Upon voter approval this proposed constitutional amendment
changes the laws regarding elections and voting rights.  In its
main provisions, the substitute:

(1)  Requires persons seeking to vote to use a photographic
identification including a valid driver's license or nondriver's
license and cards or documents with photographs issued by the
Missouri National Guard, the United States armed forces, or the
United States Department of Veterans Affairs.  Other documents
with both a signature and photograph issued by Missouri or the
United States may also be used to establish a voter's eligibility
to vote.  The state must provide at least one form of
identification at no cost to anyone who desires one.  Individuals
born on or before January 1, 1944, who have disabilities or who
have religious objections to photographic identification may vote
by provisional ballot.  The Secretary of State will provide
notification of the new voting requirements through a variety of
media, and election authorities must post notice of the new
requirements.  The Department of Revenue will provide an annual
report by January 1 documenting the number of individuals who
have requested and received a nondriver's license photo
identification to each member of the General Assembly;

(2)  Establishes deadlines for voter registration prior to an
election except in certain cases where absentee ballots are
allowed.  The substitute specifies that the normal closing time
of public buildings on the fourth Wednesday prior to the election
will be the deadline except that no registration may occur after
10:00 p.m.;

(3)  Allows for an advance voting period from the second
Wednesday prior to the election to the Wednesday prior to the
election.  Each senatorial district must have one advance voting
center; and if there is more than one county in a senatorial
district, there must be an advance voting center in every county
in that district.  The Secretary of State and each election
authority must provide adequate notice of advance voting centers
and times.  All costs associated with advance voting centers will
be reimbursed by an appropriation from general revenue; and

(4)  Allows voting by absentee ballot for reasons specified in
the substitute.  Persons in federal service who are eligible to
register may vote in federal elections by absentee ballot without
registering to vote, and interstate former residents may vote in
presidential elections without registering to vote.  New
residents may vote by absentee ballot after registering to vote.
No person who has voted an absentee ballot can vote at the polls
on election day.  Anyone violating this provision will be guilty
of a class one election offense.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Effect on General Revenue Fund of an
Income of $0 in FY 2010, an Income of $0 or Unknown to a Cost of
Unknown greater than $3,372,184 in FY 2011, and an Income of $0
or Unknown to a Cost of Unknown greater than $5,535,969 in FY
2012.  Estimated Income on Other State Funds of $0 in FY 2010, $0
or Unknown in FY 2011, and $0 or Unknown in FY 2012.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill will guarantee the
integrity of the electoral process.  Voter identification
requirements do not suppress voter turnout and are recommended by
the federal bipartisan Baker-Carter Commission.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Cox; Robert Hess; and
Missouri Eagle Forum.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that amending the
constitution for this purpose is unnecessary.  Missouri has no
documented cases of voter fraud.  The measure will disenfranchise
numerous voters, and its financial cost is substantial.

Testifying against the bill were Office of the Secretary of
State; AARP; Missouri National Education Association; American
Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri; League of Women Voters
of Missouri; Barbra Kopfer, League of Women Voters of Columbia;
Missouri Association for Social Welfare; Deniese Lieberman,
Advancement Project; DeAnna Noriega, Services for Independent
Living; Paraquad, Incorporated; Whole Person, Incorporated; and
Michelle Bishop, Missouri Disability Vote Project.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated November 17, 2009 at 9:26 am