Missouri House Bill HB2363

Missouri 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/9/24
• Refer: 5/17/24

Caption

Requires schools to allow students to leave school to vote

Impact

The proposed changes aim to add flexibility for students who wish to fulfill their civic duties without compromising their education. By mandating that schools implement policies to recognize absences for voting, the bill seeks to promote higher voter turnout among the youth. School districts will have until the 2024-25 school year to adopt policies regarding excused absences for this purpose, which will likely necessitate a review of existing attendance regulations. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will be tasked with developing a model policy to facilitate this process across the state。

Summary

House Bill 2363 is designed to amend chapter 115 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri by introducing a new section that allows students to take time off from school to vote. According to the provisions of the bill, any student entitled to vote at an election in the state can be absent from school for a period of three hours on the election day,during which their absence will be classified as excused. Furthermore, the bill specifies that it is the responsibility of the school to designate the timeframe for this absence between the opening and closing of the polls. This legislative effort aims to encourage civic engagement among younger voters by facilitating their participation in the electoral process without the concern of being penalized by their educational institution for missing class time.

Contention

Although the bill is generally framed as a positive step towards empowering young voters, it may still face some opposition regarding the logistics of implementation. Concerns could arise from school administrators and teachers about the potential disruptions in the school schedule caused by students needing to leave to vote. The enforcement of the new policy and its effects on educational outcomes may also be debated, particularly around how schools can accommodate absences while maintaining instructional continuity during election days. The bill signifies a broader trend of legislation aiming to enhance voter accessibility and rights, especially among younger demographics.