HCS HB 1966 -- ELECTIONS AND CERTAIN VOTERS (Diehl)

COMMITTEE OF ORIGIN:  Committee on Elections

This substitute changes the laws regarding absent uniform
services and overseas voters and elections.

ABSENT UNIFORMED SERVICES AND OVERSEAS VOTERS

The Secretary of State is required to establish procedures for
absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters to request
voter registration applications and absentee ballot applications.
At least one form of electronic communication for use by absent
uniformed services and overseas voters must be designated for
requesting voter registration applications and absentee ballots.
These voters may request and designate a preferred method of
electronic transmission of these applications and ballots or
request receipt by mail.  The Secretary of State must also
develop, in coordination with local election authorities, a free
access system by which these voters may determine whether an
absentee ballot has been received by the appropriate election
authority.

A sufficient quantity of paper ballots for federal elections must
be printed and available for these voters within 45 days prior to
the election.  Registration applications and paper ballots cannot
be rejected by an election authority because of any restriction
on the paper or envelope type.  Missouri is required to use the
special write-in absentee ballot provided in Section 115.292,
RSMo, for all elections for federal office as authorized by
federal law.

ELECTIONS

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.

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