SSSCSHB1878--ELECTIONS
Thisbillmodifieselectionlaws.Initsmainprovisionsthebill:
(1)AuthorizestheSecretaryofState(SOS)toquarterlyaudit
voterregistrationlistsandrequireelectionauthoritiestoremove
impropernames.Auditproceduresanddeadlinesarespecifiedin
thebillandnoncompliancecouldresultinawithholdoffunds
(Section28.960,RSMo);
(2)ProhibitsamendmentormodificationofChapter115inthe26
weeksprecedingapresidentialelection(Section115.004);
(3)Removesobsoletereferencestoballotcardsandrequires
votingmachinestobeairgappedasasecuritymeasure. Theterm
"airgapped"isspecifiedinthebill(Section115.013,115.417,
and115.447);
(4)Prohibitsthestateanditspoliticalsubdivisionsfrom
receivingorexpendingprivatemoney,excludingin-kinddonations
asdefinedinthebill,forpreparing,administering, orconducting
anelectionorregisteringvoters.Ifthereisnotsufficient
appropriationofstatefundstoproportionately compensatecounties
pursuanttoSections115.063and115.065,thissectionwillnotbe
enforced. Thebillalsoprohibitscandidates,candidate
committees,campaigncommittees,andcontinuingcommitteesfrom
receivingin-kinddonations(Section115.022);
(5)Exemptsboardofelectioncommissionersandcountyclerk
employeesfromtherequirementtoresideinorregisterwithinthe
jurisdictioninwhichtheyserve(Sections115.045and115.051);
(6)Allowsappointmentofelectionjudgeswhoresideoutsidethe
requisiteelectionauthority'sjurisdictionwithouttheneedfor
writtenconsentfromtheelectionauthorityinwhosejurisdiction
thepotentialjudgeresides. Proceduresforselectingelection
judgesfromlistssubmittedbypoliticalpartycommitteesare
specified(Sections115.081and115.085);
(7)Repealsaprovisionthatprovidesthatinapresidential
primaryelection,challengersmaycollectinformationaboutthe
partyballotselectedbyavoterandmaydisclosepartyaffiliation
informationafterthepollsclose(Section115.105);
(8)Repealstheprovisionthatrequiresanelectionfora
presidentialprimaryunderSections115.755-115.785tobeheldon
thesecondTuesdayafterthefirstMondayinMarchofeach
presidentialelectionyear(Section115.123); (9)Repealsspecifiedregistrationexceptionsforintrastatenew
residents(Section115.135);
(10)RequirestheDepartmentofRevenuetouseelectronic
applicationswhensendingmaterialstoelectionauthoritiesunder
theexistingvoterregistrationprograminplaceattheDivisionof
MotorVehiclesandDriversLicensing,withintheDepartmentof
Revenue. Nopersonwithdocumentationshowingnon-citizenshipwill
beofferedregistrationtovote,andvoterinformationmaybe
analyzedtoavoidmistakesusingthestatewidevoterregistration
databaseasspecifiedinthebill.Electronicapplicationsshall
besentnolaterthanthreebusinessdaysaftercompletionofa
form.Theelectronicapplicationsshallbesecureandinaformat
compatiblewiththeexistingVoterRegistrationSystemunder
Section115.158. TheSecretaryofStateandDirectorofthe
DepartmentofRevenueshallguaranteethesecurityandtransmission
ofelectronicdata.Imagesofsignaturesmaybeusedforthe
purposeofvoterregistration(Sections115.151,115.160,and
115.960);
(11)Requires,beginningJanuary1,2023,thatanyperson
registeringtovotemustdeclareapoliticalpartyaffiliationfrom
theestablishedpoliticalpartiesordeclarethemselves
unaffiliated. Ifavoterdoesnotdesignateanypoliticalparty
affiliation,thentheelectionauthorityshalldesignatethevoter
asunaffiliated. Voteridentification cardswillnowcontaina
voter’spoliticalpartyaffiliation. Avotercanchangehisorher
politicalpartyaffiliationatanytimebynotifyinghisorher
electionauthorityinasigned,writtennoticesubstantially
similartotheprocessforchangingavoter’saddressundersection
115.165,orwhencheckingintovoteatanyelection. Priorto
January1,2025,localelectionauthoritiesmustnotifyregistered
votersofthepoliticalpartyaffiliationopportunitiesnowoffered
usingallcurrentelectionmailingsthatwouldotherwisebemailed
toregisteredvoters(Sections115.155,115.163,115.168,and
115.628);
(12)Restrictsvoterinformationreleasedbyelectionauthorities
byprohibitingthereleaseofthedateofbirthofvoters,instead
allowingonlythereleaseoftheyearofbirth,aswellas
prohibitinguseofreleasedinformationforcommercialpurposes.
Specifiedvoterhistoryinformationwillbeforwardedtothe
SecretaryofStatewithinthreemonthsafteranelection(Section
115.157);
(13)Allowsregisteredvoterstofilechangeofaddressformsin
personafterthedeadlinetoregistertovoteincludingonelection
dayattheOfficeoftheelectionauthorityiftheyprovideatype
ofpersonalidentificationunderSubsection1ofSection115.427 whichinvolvesphotographicidentification (Section115.165);
(14)Prohibitspaymentforsolicitingvoterregistration
applicationsandrequiresregistrationwiththeSecretaryof
State'sofficeforsolicitingmorethan10voterregistration
applicationsasspecifiedinthebill(Section115.205);
(15)BeginningJanuary1,2023,thebillrequirestheuseofa
paperballotthatishand-markedbythevoterorinanothermanner
authorizedbyChapter115.Anyelectionauthoritywithtouchscreen
direct-recordingelectronicvote-countingmachinesmaycontinue
usingsuchmachinesalreadyintheirpossessionuntilJanuary1,
2024.Eachelectionauthorityshall,onceeverytwoyears,allowa
cybersecurityreviewoftheirofficebytheSecretaryofStateor
anentitythatspecializesincybersecurityreviewsandthe
SecretaryofStateshallalsoallowsuchacybersecurityreviewof
itsofficebyanentitythatspecializesincybersecurityreviews.
TheSecretaryofStatewillhavetheauthoritytorequirecyber
securitytestingofvendors,uponappropriation. TheSecretaryof
Statemayrequirethatallelectionauthoritiesbeamemberofan
organizationthatprovidesinformationtoincreasecybersecurity
andelectionintegrityefforts(Sections115.225and115.237);
(16)Forthepurposeofprocessingabsenteeballotscastbyvoters
inpersonintheelectionauthority’sofficethatisdeemed
designatedasapollingplace,theelectionauthoritymaycause
votingmachines,ifused,tobeputinorder,set,adjusted,
tested,andmadereadyforvotingwithinonebusinessdayofthe
printingofabsenteeballotsasprovidedinSection115.281
(Section115.257);
(17)Definesabsenteeballotsasthoseauthorizedtobecastaway
fromapollingplaceorintheofficeoftheelectionauthorityor
otherauthorizedlocationdesignatedbytheelectionauthority.
ReferencestoSpaceForceareincludedforpurposesofvoting
processesandelectronicballotinformationauthorizedforthe
ArmedForces(Sections115.275and115.902);
(18)Allowsuseofabsenteeballotstovoteinpersonwithaform
ofpersonalidentificationasspecifiedinthebill.Notarization
requirementsarealsospecifiedinthebilldependinguponthe
excuseforvotingabsenteeandwhetherornotvotingisconducted
inperson.Affidavitformsaremodified.Noindividualorgroup
shallsolicitvotersregardingabsenteeballotapplicationsand
suchapplicationsshallnotbepre-filledandprovidedtovoters
(Sections115.277,115.279,and115.283);
(19)Determineswhenabsenteeballotsaredeemedtobecast,
distinctionsaremadebetweenabsenteeballotsreceivedbythe electionauthorityinpersonandabsenteeballotsreceivedthrough
acommoncarrier(Section115.286);
(20)Allowsvoterassistanceincasesoftemporaryconfinementdue
toillnessorphysicaldisabilityonelectionday,butrepeals
specificCOVID-19referencestomail-inballotsthathaveexpired
(Sections115.287,115.291,and115.652);
(21)Thisbillprohibitstheuseofmail-inballotsunder
executiveoradministrative order.Expiredprovisionsarerepealed
relatingtotheuseofmail-inballotsforthe2020general
electionandabsenteevotingduringthe2020generalelectionfor
voterswhohavecontractedCOVID-19orwhoareatriskof
contractingortransmittingCOVID-19(Sections115.285,115.302,
and115.652);
(22)Repealsobsoleteintersectional references(Section115.349);
(23)Specifiesphotographicidentification requirementsforvoting
aregularballotorabsenteeballotinperson,butallowsuseof
provisionalballotswithanytypeofdocumentationcurrently
allowedforvoting.AlineitemappropriationfortheSecretaryof
State'sOfficeregardingnoticeofpersonalidentification is
repealed. Certainaffidavitrequirementsarerepealedand
requirementsforprovisionalballotsarespecifiedinthebill
(Section115.427);
(24)Specifiesthatonceaballotissubmitted,thenitisdeemed
cast(115.435);
(25)Repealsreferencetoapresidentialpreferenceprimaryand
providesthataseriesofcaucuseswillbeconductedtonominatea
candidateforpresident(Sections115.776and115.904);and
(26)ProvidesthatifanyprovisionofSectionAorthe
applicationthereoftoanyoneortoanycircumstanceisheld
invalid,theremainderofthosesectionsandtheapplicationof
suchprovisionstoothersorothercircumstanceswillnotbe
affectedthereby(Section1);
(27)Providesthatapublicofficial,asdefinedinthebill,has
noauthorityinanycivilactioninastateorfederalcourtto
compromiseorsettleanaction,consenttoanycondition,oragree
toanyorderinconnectiontherewithifthecompromise,settlement,
condition,orordernullifies,suspends,enjoins,alters,or
conflictswithanyprovisionofchapters115to128.Any
compromise,settlement,condition,ororderthatapublicofficial
agreeswiththatviolatesthisprohibitionisnullandvoid.
Nothinginthissectionshouldbeconstruedtolimitorrestrict anypowersgrantedbyarticlesIIIorVIIIortheMissouri
constitution.
RequirespartiestoprovideacopyofthepleadingtotheSpeaker
oftheHouseofRepresentatives andthePresidentprotemofthe
Senatewithinfourteendaysoffilingthepleadingwiththecourt
incaseschallengingtheconstitutionality ofastatutefaciallyor
asapplied,caseschallengingastatuteasviolatingorbeing
preemptedbyfederallaw,orcaseschallengingtheconstructionor
validityofastatute,aspartofaclaimoraffirmativedefense.
TheSpeakeroftheHouseandthePresidentprotemoftheSenate
mayintervenetodefendagainsttheactionatanytimeinthe
actionasamatterofrightbyservingmotionuponthepartiesas
providedbyapplicablerulesofcivilprocedure.
TheSpeakeroftheHouseandPresidentprotemoftheSenatemay
interveneatanytimeinanactiononbehalfoftheirrespective
chambers,oractingjointly,interveneinanactiononbehalfof
theGeneralAssembly.Theymayobtainlegalcounselotherthanfrom
theAttorneyGeneral,withthecostofrepresentation paidfrom
fundsappropriatedforthatpurpose,torepresenttherespective
chamberorGeneralAssemblyinanyaction.However,noindividual
member,orgroupofmembers,oftheSenateortheHouseof
Representatives, exceptthePresidentprotemandtheSpeaker,as
providedunderthisbill,shallinterveneinanactiondescribedin
thisbillorobtainlegalcounselatpublicexpenseunderthisbill
inthemember'sorgroup'scapacityasamemberormembersofthe
SenateortheHouseofRepresentatives.
TheparticipationoftheSpeakeroftheHouseorthePresidentpro
temofthesenateinanystateorfederalaction,asapartyor
otherwise,doesnotconstituteawaiverofthelegislativeimmunity
orlegislativeprivilegeofanymember,officer,orstaffofthe
GeneralAssembly (Section2);and
(28)Allauditsrequiredbysubsection6ofsection115.225that
areconductedbythesecretaryofstatemustbepaidforbystate
andfederalfunding(Section3).