HCS SS SCS SB 476, 427 & 62 -- ELECTION LAWS

SPONSOR:  Yeckel (Seigfreid)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Elections
by a vote of 12 to 0.

This substitute makes numerous changes to the election laws.  In
its main provisions, the substitute:

(1)  Allows electronic voting systems to be certified for use in
Missouri;

(2)  Allows independent and third party members to serve as
election judges;

(3)  Upon appropriation, requires all election authorities to
establish an advance voting period for all elections, which will
begin 14 days before an election and end on the Wednesday
immediately before an election.  The election authority must
establish and post the hours, dates, and locations for advance
voting.  Advance voting provisions terminate on August 28, 2006;

(4)  Requires voter registration agencies under the National
Voter Registration Act to submit registration applications
within 5 days of completion of the registration form;

(5)  Requires election authorities to accept absentee ballot
applications by facsimile transmission;

(6)  Extends the Secretary of State's authority to collect
Technology Trust Fund fees until December 31, 2009;

(7)  Clarifies voter registration provisions, including allowing
closure of certain registration records if the voter's safety
may be jeopardized by release of the records.  Voter
registration forms must be transmitted to election authorities
no later than 5 business days after an applicant completes the
form; and

(8)  Requires the Secretary of State to set statewide uniform
counting standards.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Net Cost to General Revenue Fund of
$125,000 to $5,150,000 in FY 2002, $530,665 to at least
$8,990,665 in FY 2003, and $138,911 to $5,163,911 in FY 2004.
Income to Technology Trust Fund of $1,093,125 in FY 2002, and
$2,186,250 in FY 2003 and FY 2004.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill is necessary to
encourage people to participate in the election process by
increasing their access to the polls and making it easier to
vote and to avoid long lines that discourage participation.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Yeckel; Office of the
Secretary of State; Missouri Association of County Clerks and
Election Authorities; and Associated Students of the University
of Missouri.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Julie Jinkens McNitt, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated November 26, 2001 at 11:47 am