HCS HB 1966 -- ELECTIONS

SPONSOR:  Deeken (Diehl)

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

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

(1)  Requires each election authority to establish one advance
voting center in each senatorial district in the state or at
least one center in each county in a senatorial district if there
is more than one county in a senatorial district.  Any registered
voter may vote by advance ballot in person at any election for
federal or statewide offices.  Advance voting will begin on the
second Saturday prior to the election until the Wednesday
immediately preceding the election, excluding Sundays, using
absentee ballots and those procedures.  No reason for voting an
absentee ballot will be required as is currently required to vote
by absentee ballot.  All current procedures for casting and
counting absentee ballots and the appointment of election judges
and polling places will apply to advance voting.  The Secretary
of State and each local election authority must provide adequate
public notice of the advance voting centers and voting times
including a posting in their respective offices or on each of
their web sites.  All costs associated with advance voting
centers will be reimbursed by the state.  If there is no
appropriation, an election authority must not conduct advance
voting;

(2)  Specifies that a person seeking to vote in a public election
must establish his or her qualifications as a United States
citizen lawfully residing in this state by presenting a form of
personal identification containing a photograph of the individual
to election officials.  All costs incurred by an election
authority to implement the photo identification requirements will
be reimbursed by the state.  If there is no appropriation, the
election authority must not enforce the photo identification
requirement;

(3)  Allows an individual to vote by casting a provisional ballot
after signing an affidavit if he or she does not possess a
required form of personal identification because of the inability
to pay for a birth certificate or other documentation necessary
to obtain the identification;

(4)  Requires the state to provide at no cost at least one form
of personal identification required to vote to a qualified
citizen who does not already possess the required identification
and desires the identification in order to vote; and

(5)  Repeals the provision regarding disabled or elderly persons
obtaining a nondriver's license photo identification through a
mobile processing system operated by the Department of Revenue.

If any portion of the substitute is held invalid for any reason,
the entire substitute will be invalidated.

The substitute will become effective upon voter approval of a
constitutional amendment that authorizes the General Assembly to
require the photo identification, advance voting, and voter
registration requirements by general law.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Effect on General Revenue Fund of an
income of $0 or Unknown to a cost of Unknown greater than
$7,047,175 in FY 2011, an income of $0 or Unknown to a cost of
Unknown greater than $6,612,699 in FY 2012, and an income of $0
or Unknown to a cost of Unknown greater than $8,432,091 in FY
2013.  Estimated Income on Other State Funds of $0 or Unknown in
FY 2011, FY 2012, and FY 2013.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill creates an economically
feasible method of advance voting using existing procedures and
ballots.  Early voting is widely supported by the public.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Diehl; Greater Kansas
City Chamber of Commerce; Office of the Secretary of State; and
Parquad, Incorporated.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill say the state should fully
fund advance voting, and polls should only be open during regular
business hours.

Testifying on the bill was Missouri Association of County Clerks.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:12 pm