CCS#2 HCS SS#2 SCS SB 1014 & 730 -- ELECTIONS

This bill establishes the Missouri Voter Protection Act which
changes the laws regarding elections.  In its main provisions,
the bill:

(1)  Specifies that for elections held on or before November 1,
2008, all eligible voters may cast a provisional ballot if they
fail to meet the documentation or photographic identification
requirements to cast a regular ballot.  In order to vote a
provisional ballot, a person must sign an affidavit and provide
any state-issued identification, voter identification card, any
identification issued by the United States, educational
institution identification, non-Missouri driver's license, or
other specified types of bills and documents.  The provisional
ballots will be confirmed by signature matching;

(2)  Requires that for any election after November 1, 2008,
voters must establish their identity prior to voting by providing
a nonexpired Missouri driver's license; a Missouri nondriver's
license; certain specified documents; or photographic
identification, without an expiration date, that is issued to
members of the Missouri National Guard, the United States armed
forces, or by the Veterans' Administration.  A voter may cast a
provisional ballot, but it will only count if he or she returns
to the polling site with the appropriate identification during
the election period;

(3)  Specifies that for all elections any person who has a
physical or mental disability, has a religious belief forbidding
the use of photographic identification, or was born on or before
January 1, 1941, may vote a provisional ballot upon signing an
affidavit as specified in Section 115.427, RSMo;

(4)  Requires that nondriver's licenses be provided free of
charge to any eligible voter who lacks other means of
identification.  Mobile units will assist with issuing the
nondriver's licenses, and the Director of the Department of
Revenue will provide a report to the General Assembly on the
number of nondriver's licenses issued for voting purposes and the
reason for denying any request;

(5)  Requires the Secretary of State to provide notice of the new
voter requirements through major communications media such as
radio, television, the Internet, and printed publications;

(6)  Specifies that absentee ballots will not be mailed to voters
who register by mail until they have voted in person or provided
the newly required documentation or photographic identification
to vote a regular ballot.  Exceptions are allowed based on
federal laws;

(7)  Requires election authorities to create a list of legally
registered voters using the process specified in Section 115.158.
Precinct binders based on identification by election judges will
no longer be sufficient for voter identification lists.  Voter
notification cards with the new photographic identification
requirements will be mailed to registered voters;

(8)  Specifies that challenges to the legitimacy of voter
identification may be made only to election judges and election
authorities as specified in Section 115.105;

(9)  Provides the criteria for holding elections after natural or
man-made disasters and authorizes three-judge panels formed by
appellate court judges to allow the rescheduling of elections and
to oversee elections.  Appeals to the Missouri Supreme Court are
allowed;

(10)  Requires individuals registering more than 10 persons as
new voters to register with the Secretary of State as voter
registration solicitors.  The process and requirements for
registration are specified.  Solicitors cannot be paid by the
quantity of voters registered or the number of applications
submitted, but the bill does not prohibit an hourly compensation.
Failure to register will be a class three election offense;

(11)  Specifies detailed criteria for counting different types of
punch cards and optical scan ballots to help resolve disputes
over how election authorities should judge ballots;

(12)  Removes the ability to vote a straight party ticket;

(13)  Gives election authorities in St. Charles County discretion
on the number of ballots they print for elections.  All other
counties will be required to print a ratio of one and one-third
times the number of ballots used in the specified types of
previous elections held in those counties;

(14)  Requires elections to be held for the board of trustees for
community college districts even if the number of candidates is
equal to the number of vacancies;

(15)  Prohibits state courts from extending polling hours past
those established by state law;

(16)  Creates two new class one election offenses:

(a)  Engaging in any acts of violence, destruction of property
worth $500 or more, or threats of violence with the intent of
interfering with the right to vote; and

(b)  Knowingly providing false information about election
procedures for the purpose of preventing voting;

(17)  Allows minor children to accompany their parents,
grandparents, or guardians into a voting booth;

(18)  Removes the ability to vote an advance ballot; and

(19)  Removes the ability for voters to challenge the removal of
their names from registration lists in circuit court.

The provision regarding the issuance of a nondriver's license at
no charge contains an emergency clause.

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:47 am