HB2140--ELECTIONS
SPONSOR: McGaugh
Thisbillchangeselectionlaws.Initsmainprovisionsthebill:
(1)Removesobsoletereferencestoballotcardsandrequires
votingmachinestobeairgappedasasecuritymeasure(Section
115.013,115.417,115.447,RSMo);
(2)Removestheoneyearvoterandresidencyrequirementfor
electioncommissioners, butretainstherequirementsofvoter
registrationandresidencyatthetimeofappointment(Section
115.031);
(3)Exemptsboardofelectioncommissionersandclerkemployees
fromrequirementtoresideorregisterwithinthejurisdictionin
whichtheyserve(Sections115.045and115.051);
(4)Allowsappointmentofelectionjudgeswhoresideoutsidethe
requisiteelectionauthority'sjurisdictionwithouttheneedfor
writtenconsentfromtheelectionauthorityinwhosejurisdiction
thepotentialjudgeresides. Proceduresforselectingelection
judgesfromlistssubmittedbypoliticalpartycommitteesis
specified(Section115.081;115.085);
(5)Repealsspecifiedregistrationexceptionsforintrastatenew
residentsandauthorizesregistrationinthestateofMissourifor
suchindividuals(Section115.135);
(6)AuthorizestheDepartmentofRevenuetouseelectronic
applicationswhensendingmaterialstoelectionauthoritiesunder
theexistingvoterregistrationprograminplaceattheDivisionof
MotorVehiclesandDriversLicensing,withintheDepartmentof
Revenue. Electronicapplicationsshallbesentnolaterthanthree
businessdaysaftercompletionofaform.Theelectronic
applicationsshallbesecureandinaformatcompatiblewiththe
existingVoterRegistrationSystemunderSection115.158. The
SecretaryofStateandDirectorofRevenueshallguaranteethe
securityandtransmissionofelectronicdata.Imagesofsignatures
maybeusedforthepurposeofvoterregistration(Sections
115.151,115.160,115.960);
(7)Restrictsvoterinformationreleasedbyelectionauthorities
byeliminatingthedateofbirthandprohibitingusesfor
commercialpurposes. Certainrequirementstoreleasesuch
informationtothegeneralpublicarealsorepealedormodified
(Sections115.157and115.289); (8)Allowsregisteredvoterstofilechangeofaddressformsin
persononelectionday(Sections115.165);
(9)Definesabsenteeballotsasthoseauthorizedtobecastaway
fromapollingplaceorintheofficeoftheelectionauthorityor
otherauthorizedlocationdesignatedbytheelectionauthority.
ReferencestoSpaceForceareincludedforpurposesofvoting
processesandelectronicballotinformationauthorizedforthe
armedforces(Sections115.257,115.275);
(15)Allowsuseofabsenteeballotstovoteinpersonwithaform
ofpersonalidentificationasspecifiedinthebill.Notarization
requirementsarealsospecifiedinthebilldependinguponthe
excuseforvotingabsenteeandwhetherornotvotingisconducted
inperson.Affidavitformsaremodified. Thecastingofinperson
absenteeballotswithphotographicidentification isauthorized
onlyifcourtsupholdtheconstitutionality ofphotographic
identification requirementsasspecifiedinthebill(Sections
115.277and115.279,115.283);
(16)Allowsvoterassistanceincasesoftemporaryconfinementdue
toillnessorphysicaldisabilityonelectionday,butrepeals
specificCOVID-19referencestomail-inballotsthathaveexpired
(Sections115.287,115.291,and115.652);
(17)Specifiesthatonceaballotisdepositedintheballotbox,
thenitisdeemedcast(115.435);and
(18)RepealsexpiredSection115.302,whichallowedmailin
ballotsduringtheCOVID-19crisisandothersectionsreferencing
obsoleteCOVID-19laws(Section115.652).
ThisbillissimilartoHB2113(2022)andHB738Reperfected
(2021).