HCS HB 2114 -- PAPER BALLOTS AT ELECTIONS

SPONSOR:  May (Zimmerman)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Elections
by a vote of 8 to 0.

This substitute changes the laws regarding the use of paper
ballots at elections.  In its main provisions, the substitute:

(1)  Allows every individual the right to cast a paper ballot in
state and federal elections;

(2) Requires paper ballots to be counted and treated as a regular
ballot;

(3)  Requires election authorities to provide a sufficient number
of ballots to meet the requirements of the substitute;

(4)  Requires election authorities to post notice of the right to
use paper ballots; and

(5)  Requires the state to pay the actual printing costs of paper
ballots required by the substitute.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on General Revenue Fund in FY 2009,
FY 2010, and FY 2011.  Estimated Cost on Other State Funds of
$728,342 to $1,274,598 in FY 2009, $0 in FY 2010, and $770,813 to
$1,348,923 in FY 2011.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill will make the rules for
voting uniform across the state and give voters the option to use
paper ballots.  Paper ballots allow for faster voting and are not
subject to machine error.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Zimmerman; and Office
of the Secretary of State.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that the bill does not
pay for ballots in local elections.

Testifying against the bill was Joseph Golki, Director of
Elections for St. Louis County.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill say that the state should
pay for all election costs.  The fiscal note on the bill may be
underestimated as it uses a 20 cent per ballot estimate, but
ballots may actually cost up to $1 per ballot.

Testifying on the bill was Darryl Kemp, Association of County
Clerks.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated October 15, 2008 at 3:11 pm