SPONSOR: Hudson
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass with HCS" by the Standing Committee on Elections and Elected Officials by a vote of 8 to 4. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules- Administrative Oversight by a vote of 7 to 2.
The following is a summary of the House Committee Substitute for HB 1595.
Beginning January 1, 2023, this bill requires the use of paper ballots for all elections. Until January 1, 2024, election authorities may continue to use electronic touchscreen machines for disabled voters. Marking devices will also be permissible to assist voters with paper ballot marking, or voters may choose to have assistance as currently authorized under Section 115.445, RSMo.
The bill prohibits unattended depositories, known as a drop box, for depositing an election ballot. This does not include mail boxes under the ownership and control of the United States Postal Service.
This bill is similar to HB 925 (2021).
The following is a summary of the public testimony from the committee hearing. The testimony was based on the introduced version of the bill.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that hand-marked paper ballots are an excellent elections security measure and will allow election audits if needed. Ballot marking devices should be used only upon request because they do use software.
Testifying for the bill were Representative Hudson; Adrienne Jacobsmeyer; Ali Graeff; Alicia Embree; Amber Crawford; Andrea Shrum; Angela M Good; Anita Mahan; Barbara Nicholson; Becky Tucker; Becky Woods; Bernard Steitz; Beverley Fries; Brenda S. Hopfer; Carla S Pryor; Carol; Christine Dean; Christopher Stiegman; Crystal Duckworth; Cynthia Barb; Dahnielle Wheeler; Dana Guetterman; Dana Young; Darlene Reese; David Hannes; Dee Fjordbak; Deidre Brown; Dianna Viefhaus; Don Eagleston; Don Grimm; Dr. Lisa E Gore; Elaine Vollmer; Ellie Sundstrom; Emily Blazevic; Gary Farrar; George Collins; Geri Thwing; Hannah Burns; Jacob Jones; Jan Farrar; Janet Hennessey; Jeffrey T Scoggins; Jennifer Barker; Jennifer Boren; Jessica Grimm; Joann Flaherty; Johanna Beaudean; Josephine Byrne; Joy Labrie; Judi Gambino; Julia R Sanders; Kathryn Hammen; Kelly Bowen; Kim Landgraf; Kim Schneider; Lanette Gerau; Larry Gene Sites; Les J Larson; Lindsay Rapp; Lloyd Wideman; Lora Fowler; Lora Young; Lori Bourgeois; Lori Thompson; Marjory Aherin; Marnie Mitchell; Mary Cremer; Mary Ellen Mohundro; Matt Deniszczuk; Matthew Crawford; Melissa Wolf; Michelle Burns; Milton Arndt; Missi Ferguson; PJ Harrison; Rachel Jerome; Randy G Heise, Jr; Renee Clark; Rhonda Brackett; Richard Mckie; Rita Lavanchy; Robbyn Kempf; Robert Coovert; Robert M Bourgeois; Robyn Hamlin; Roger A. Fries; Sara Singh; Sharise King; Sherry L Scoggins; Sophia O'neal; Stacy Davis; Stephanie Raney; Tara Warnecke; Thomas Compton; Thomas Gannon; Todd Lifka; Tracy Welborn; Vicki; Wendy Melrose; Aimee Ratcliff; Alan D Heisel; Allen Wilson; Alline Babbitt; Amanda Elson; Amanda Parton; Amber O Rear; Amy Rutledge; Andrea Roberts; Angela M Good; Anita Banes; Anita Mahan; April Deters; Ashlyn Gunter; Audrey Newberry; Barbra Whittington; Beth Vincent; Concerned Women for America of Missouri; Beverley Fries; Bradley Dicus; Brendan Mccarthy; Carol Duckworth; Carol Pitzer; Carrie Walker; Cathy Boero; Charles Curtman; Cheryl Bohl; Cheryl Pettigrew; Chris Schroeder; Christine Crow; Christine E Hessel; Christine Look; Christy D Shelton; Chrystie Moody; Cindy Keene; Claudia Galbraith; Cody Cypret; Connie Combs; Cynthia Hoffmeister; Cynthia L. Jones; Cynthia Redburn; Dana Guest; Dana K. Crowder; Darian Cesar; David Larson; David M. Lash; Deanna Rhodes-Widmer; Debbie Fehl; Denise Anthony; Denise Dickens, Stone County Clerk and Election Au; Denise Laughlin; Dianne Dodge; Dianne Ely; Dixie Langenwalter; Dominic J Visione; Echo Alexzander; Elizabeth Baker; Elizabeth Freeman; Elizabeth Holder; Eugene S. Deggendorf; Fara Lynn McSpadden; Frances Hall; Gary L Clark; Gary L Ridenhour; Gary Sonder Urich; George McGriff; Hannah Huff; Heather Gannon; J. Conrady; Jacqueline Bills; James L. Pelis; Janet Dabbs, Concerned Women For America of Missouri; Janet Karen Kaminsky; Janet Keeney; Jeanne Schoettle; Jennifer Barker; Jennifer Bouckaert; Jennifer Engel; Jennifer Greco; Jennifer Nolen; Jessica Vowels; Joanna K Boyer; Jose Valbuena; Joseph Edward Knecht; Joseph L Vincent; Joseph Mcghee; Judy Sofka, Missouri Precinct Project/MOPP; Julia Lesinski; Julie Burgess; Karan Loyd-Moseley; Karen Leydens; Karen Wade; Karen Wickersham; Karin Donjon; Karla Thrasher; Kathie Zuroweste; Kathleen Henry; Kathy Forck; Keith Kleeschulte; Kelley Freelove; Kelly Cason; Keren Godwin; Kerry Blair; Kevin Blackburn; Kevin M Harrington; Kiki Schilling; Kim Swartz; Kriket Riddle; Krystle Willmore; Lara A Green; Lauren Hawse; Laurie Nicewaner; Leah Katherine Wuestenberg; Leah Whaley; Leilani Pugh; Linda Conrady; Linda Starcevich; Lisa Rettke; Lorna Piper; Lynette Johnson, MD; Malinda Kendrick; Malissa Shawley; Marcella Povis; Marcus A Logan; Marilyn Roberts; Martha Staggs; Mary Ann Arney; Mary Black; Maryann Duff; Matt Goldsmith; Matthew Patrick Sostman; Maureen Lauer; Megan Guillen; Melissa Thomas; Melissa Williams; Michael G Tate; Michael Lee Ray; Michael Miller; Michele Nunemacher; Michele Smith; Michelle Ellison; Michelle Goodman; Nadine Varga; Nancy Belluche; Nancy Gregory; Nancy Jones; Nancy M. Stroppel; Nancy Nippes; Nicole Olszewski; Norma Clark; Norma Putnam; Pat Vogler; Patricia Lucido; Paula Hardin; Paula Juelich; Paula Kelly; Paula L Leonard; Phyllis Stark; Polly Stone; Preston V Smith; Rachel Bourgeois; Rachel Poston; Raquel Beasley; Rebecca Anne Porter; Rebecca Richards; Rhonda J Crowe; Richard Homan; Robert Patricia Rains; Robert Ballay; Robert Bourgeois Jr; Robin Gallardo; Rodney D Farthing; Ron Joecks; Roxane Magnus; Ruth Brockelbank; Sanna King; Sarah Crow; Sarah Garfinkel; Sarah Moody; Shanna Gratzer; Sharon Jackson; Shauna Brandt; Shawna Michelle White; Sherie Payne; Sherry Kuttenkuler Arthaud; Susan Myers; Susan Scherer; Susan Taylor; Tambra L Wiley; Tammy Palisch; Tedi Payne; Teresa Stone; Terri Baker; Terri Sue Streeter; Terry Bazzell; Terry Pyatt; Timothy Brockelbank; Tracie Russell; Tracy Forker; Trish Mitchell; Tristyn Sims; Vickie Brown; Virgil W Moore; Virginia C Campbell; Walter Olszewski; William G Ross; William Stone; Vicky Simbro; Amanda Hickenbottom-Conner; Amber Harlow; Andrew Bowen; Arnie C. AC Dienoff; Beverley Fries; Brian Bowers; Cathleen Protte; Chris D Adams; Chris Hooper; Cynthia Brown; Cynthia S. Cheatham; David Georgeff; Deana Wolfe; Debbie Sullivan; Diane Smith; Gabriel Dieckmann; Garrett Ratcliff; Hanna Sims; Heather Gardner; Hollis Jared Walker; Jacqueline Peck; Jennifer Hurt; Jenny Caro; Jo Bolhofner; John Webb; Jolie R Pope; Jordan Cason; Julie A Bowers; Katherine Manson; Kathryn M Berg; Kathryn S Schoeck; Keith R Schwaab; Kimberle R. Logan; Linda J Erb; Mary Laffoon; Meike Aton; Melissa Brown; Melissa James; Melody Johnston; Myron Gregory Pope; Nancy Danner; Norma Marshall; Pam Behling; Pamela Trotter; Patricia Ann Carr; Peter Goebel; Rita Langford; Ron Calzone; Ruth Parker; Sarah Burr; Scott Riedel; Shasta Demecs; Sherri Jerrick; Stephanie Harvey; Steve Nienhiser; Susan Semple; Suzanne Wildman; Tedi Payne; Terri Sue Streeter; Thomas A. Waddell; Tony Murphy; Tracee Stotts; Viola; Willie Van Wyhe; Donald Crites; Lenora Weston; Lori Hoeflinget; Mindy Brown; Randy Blane Taylor; Cynthia Richards; Dave Guest; Laura Hausladen; Mitchell Hubbard; Scott R. Clark, Missouri Secretary Of State; Connie R Larson; Patty Williamson; Rachel Deckerd; James F. Dannerf; Jessica Bolerjack; Kimberley Marie Griffin; Kristen Smith; Leisa Crawley; Linda Waddell; Norma Stone; Samantha Young; Allison Nickolai; Carol Callahan; Gayla Prewitt; Kristi Stephens; Tracy Welborn; Veronica Oots; Mona Menezes; and Cathy Epps.
OPPONENTS: Those who oppose the bill provided written testimony.
Testifying against the bill were Anne Calvert; Cheryl Hibbeler; Dawn Banks; Denis Edward Rigdon; Denise Lieberman, Missouri Voter Protection Coalition; Don Crozier; Getta R. Hall; Missouri AFL-CIO; Marissa Polzin; Mindy Sue McIntosh; George Lenard; Marla J Marantz; Melissa Vatterott, Missouri Coalition for the Environment; Ron Berry, Jobs With Justice Voter Action; and Missouri Healthcare For All.
OTHERS: Others testifying on the bill provided written testimony.
Testifying on the bill was Debbie Wade.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: