This bill establishes requirements and procedures for conducting a presidential preference primary election, which is an election held in a presidential election year to determine the preferences of the registered voters of a major political party regarding the party's nominee for President of the United States. Section 43 of this bill requires, with certain exceptions, that a presidential preference primary election be held for each major political party on the first Tuesday in February of each presidential election year. Section 44 of this bill sets forth the process for a qualified candidate to file a declaration of candidacy for a presidential preference primary election. Section 41 of this bill defines the term “qualified candidate.” Section 45 of this bill requires the county clerk to publish certain information regarding the presidential preference primary election. Section 46 of this bill provides that a registered voter may cast a ballot at a presidential preference primary election for a major political party only if the registered voter designated on his or her application to register to vote an affiliation with the party. Section 47 of this bill provides that such a registered voter may cast a ballot at the presidential preference primary election at any polling place in the county. Section 11 of this bill makes a conforming change to require a county clerk to establish at least one vote center in the county for the day of the presidential preference primary election. Section 47 of this bill sets forth various duties of a county clerk related to the presidential preference primary election, including distributing sample ballots, establishing polling places, distributing absent ballots and, if applicable, distributing mail ballots or mailing ballots. Sections 12-16 of this bill make conforming changes to existing provisions relating to absent ballots and mailing ballots. Section 48 of this bill requires a period for early voting for a presidential preference primary election that begins 10 calendar days before the election and extends through the Friday before the election. Section 17 of this bill makes a conforming change related to the general process for early voting. Section 50 of this bill requires the Secretary of State to compile the returns of the presidential preference primary election for each qualified candidate of the major political party, prepare an abstract of the returns and certify the number of votes received by each qualified candidate. Sections 49 and 51 of this bill provide that the cost of a presidential preference primary election is a charge against the State and must be paid from the Reserve for Statutory Contingency Account. Section 23 of this bill makes a conforming change related to the cost of distributing sample ballots. Sections 2-5 of this bill make conforming changes related to the precinct meetings and party conventions of major political parties to account for holding a presidential preference primary election. Section 6 of this bill clarifies that the minor political parties do not participate in the presidential preference primary election. Section 7 of this bill requires, with certain exceptions, the Secretary of State to adopt regulations relating to a presidential preference primary election. Sections 8 and 18 of this bill authorize an Indian tribe to request the establishment of a polling place within the boundaries of an Indian reservation or Indian colony for a presidential preference primary election. Section 9 of this bill sets forth the procedure for a registered voter to apply to vote at a presidential preference primary election. Section 10 of this bill requires the county clerk to post certain notices if a candidate whose name appears on the ballot at a presidential preference primary election dies before the closing of the polls. Section 19 of this bill requires the county clerk to collect and submit to the Secretary of State certain information regarding each presidential preference primary election consistent with the requirements to collect and submit to the Secretary of State information for a primary or general election. Sections 20-22 and 25 of this bill amend existing provisions relating to voter registration to account for presidential preference primary elections. Section 24 of this bill requires the county clerk to ascertain by precinct and district the number of registered voters in the county and their political affiliation before the presidential preference primary election consistent with the existing requirements for a primary or general election. Section 26 of this bill amends the definition of “election” so that provisions that allow certain voter registration after the close of registration and same day voter registration apply to the presidential preference primary election. Sections 27-32 of this bill make various changes to specify that provisions relating to elections affected by certain emergencies or disasters also apply to presidential preference primary elections. Sections 33-35 of this bill specify that provisions relating to mechanical voting systems and machines also apply to presidential preference primary elections.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 293.010, 293.135, 293.137, 293.163, 293.1715, 293.247, 293.2733, 293.287, 293.302, 293.3072, 293.309, 293.313, 293.3165, 293.343, 293.345, 293.356, 293.3572, 293.4695, 293.485, 293.5057, 293.560, 293.565, 293.567, 293.5737, 293.5777, 293.8811, 293.8821, 293.8831, 293.8834, 293.8837, 293.8841, 293B.130, 293B.190, 293B.300, 353.264
Reprint 1: 293.010, 293.135, 293.137, 293.163, 293.1715, 293.1725, 293.177, 293.200, 293.247, 293.2733, 293.287, 293.302, 293.3072, 293.309, 293.313, 293.3165, 293.343, 293.345, 293.356, 293.3572, 293.4695, 293.485, 293.5057, 293.560, 293.565, 293.567, 293.5737, 293.5777, 293.8811, 293.8821, 293.8831, 293.8834, 293.8837, 293.8841, 293B.130, 293B.190, 293B.300, 293C.145, 293C.175, 353.264
Reprint 2: 293.010, 293.135, 293.137, 293.163, 293.1715, 293.247, 293.2733, 293.287, 293.302, 293.3072, 293.309, 293.313, 293.3165, 293.343, 293.345, 293.356, 293.3572, 293.4695, 293.485, 293.5057, 293.560, 293.565, 293.567, 293.5737, 293.5777, 293.8811, 293.8821, 293.8831, 293.8834, 293.8837, 293.8841, 293B.130, 293B.190, 293B.300, 353.264
As Enrolled: 293.010, 293.135, 293.137, 293.163, 293.1715, 293.247, 293.2733, 293.287, 293.302, 293.3072, 293.309, 293.313, 293.3165, 293.343, 293.345, 293.356, 293.3572, 293.4695, 293.485, 293.5057, 293.560, 293.565, 293.567, 293.5737, 293.5777, 293.8811, 293.8821, 293.8831, 293.8834, 293.8837, 293.8841, 293B.130, 293B.190, 293B.300, 353.264