SPONSOR: McGaugh
This bill changes election laws. In its main provisions the bill:
(1) Removes a one year residency requirement for serving as an election commissioner while retaining the registered voter and resident of the district requirement at the time of appointment and service (Section 115.031);
(2) Allows appointment of election judges who reside outside the requisite election authorities jurisdiction without the need for written consent from the election authority in whose jurisdiction the potential judge resides (Section 115.085);
(3) Repeals a provision allowing challengers to presidential primary elections to collect information about party ballots and disclose such information after polls close (Section 115.105);
(4) Repeals provisions allowing a presidential primary election to be held in March (Sections 115.123, 115.237, 115.349, 115.351, 115.755, 115.758, 115.761, 115.765, 115.767, 115.770, 115.773, 115.776, and 115.785);
(5) Restricts voter information released by election authorities by eliminating the date of birth and prohibiting uses for commercial purposes. Certain requirements to release such information to the general public are also repealed or modified (Sections 115.157 and 115.289);
(6) Prohibits the payment of persons for soliciting voter registration applications and requires registration of any person soliciting more than 10 voter registration applications (Section 115.205);
(7) Defines absentee ballots as those authorized to be cast away from a polling place or in the office of the election authority or other authorized location designated by the election authority (Sections 115.257 and 115.275);
(8) Allows use of absentee ballots without stating a reason beginning the third Tuesday before an election provided that photo identification is provided or other exceptions are met. Notarization requirements are also specified in the bill and affidavit forms are modified (Sections 115.277 and 115.279);
(9) Authorizes the counting of absentee ballots received in person prior to election day and those received by mail or authorized drop box prior to the closing of polls on election day (Section 115.286);
(10) Allows voter assistance in cases of temporary confinement due to illness or physical disability, but repeals specific Covid-19 references that have expired (Sections 115.287, 115.291, and 115.652);
(11) Specifies photographic identification requirements for voting a regular ballot, but allows use of provisional ballots with any type of documentation currently allowed for voting. A line item appropriation for the Secretary of State's Office regarding notice of personal identification is repealed. Certain affidavit requirements are repealed and requirements for provisional ballots are specified in the bill (Section 115.427);
(12) Specifies that once a ballot is completed by the voter and submitted into the ballot box, then the ballot is deemed cast (Section 115.435);
(13) Creates class four election offense of gathering petition signatures within 50 feet of a polling place on election days (Section 115.637); and
(14) Repeals mail-in ballot process related to Covid-19 pandemic which is expired (Section 115.302).
Statutes affected: