SPONSOR: McGaugh
This bill reinstates the presidential preference primary election, to be held on the first Tuesday in March of each presidential election year.
The bill allows a notice of election to be sent by email.
Currently, the filing time for declarations of candidacy for offices in political subdivisions or special districts not otherwise specified in law or charter is from the 17th Tuesday prior to the election through the 14th Tuesday prior to the election.
This bill moves the filing time by one week, from the 16th Tuesday prior to the election to the 13th Tuesday prior to the election. The bill also provides that if the 13th Tuesday prior to the election is a State or Federal holiday, the closing filing date will be the next day that is not a State or Federal holiday.
Currently, the election authority must have automatic tabulating equipment tested within 14 days prior to an election. This bill specifies that this test must occur no later than one week prior to an election.
The bill lengthens the in-person no-excuse absentee voting period from two to four weeks.
Currently, covered voters eligible to register to vote may vote in certain elections by submitting a Federal postcard application to apply to vote at their polling place. This bill changes this requirement from the polling place to the office of the election authority on election day.
Currently, interstate former residents and new residents may vote absentee for presidential and vice presidential electors. The bill allows them to vote for those electors at the office of the election authority on election day.
This bill provides that all lists of absentee ballot applications for people with permanent disabilities will be kept confidential and must not be posted or displayed in an area open to the general public nor shown to any unauthorized person. The bill requires any person who files as a candidate for a public office that performs county functions in the City of St. Louis to provide copies of paid receipts or no-tax-due statements for local personal and real property taxes received from the Assessor to the election authority.
A person who files to be included on the presidential primary ballot is not prohibited from filing as a party candidate for nomination to another office.
The bill applies existing procedures for voters using provisional ballots to voters voting absentee in person at the office of the election authority or at another authorized location designated by the election authority.
This bill allows a provisional ballot to be cast in any public election.
The bill provides that votes for write-in candidates must only be counted for candidates who have filed a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate, even if no candidate has filed for that office.
Currently, exit polling, surveying, sampling, and electioneering is prohibited within 25 feet of a polling place on election day. This bill increases that distance to 50 feet.
Specific deadlines for administrative actions by local election authorities and the Secretary of State that are necessary to hold the presidential preference primary are specified in the bill.
The conduct of the presidential preference primary must conform as nearly as possible to that prescribed for the primary election for State officers.
All costs of the presidential preference primary, except for proportional costs for any political subdivision or special district holding an election on the same day, will be paid by the State.
Statutes affected: