HCSHB2140--ELECTIONS(McGaugh)
Thisbillchangeselectionlaws.Initsmainprovisionsthebill:
(1)AuthorizestheSecretaryofState(SOS)toauditvoter
registrationlistsandrequireelectionauthoritiestoremove
impropernames.Auditproceduresanddeadlinesarespecifiedin
thebillandnoncompliancecouldresultinawithholdoffunds
(Section28.960,RSMo);
(2)Removesobsoletereferencestoballotcardsandrequires
votingmachinestobeairgappedasasecuritymeasure. Theterm
"airgapped"isspecifiedinthebill(Section115.013,115.417,
115.447);
(3)Prohibitsthestateanditspoliticalsubdivisionsfrom
receivingorexpendingprivatemoneyforpreparing,administering,
orconductinganelectionorregisteringvoters(Section115.022);
(4)Removestheoneyearvoterandresidencyrequirementfor
electioncommissioners, butretainstherequirementsofvoter
registrationandresidencyatthetimeofappointment(Section
115.031);
(5)Exemptsboardofelectioncommissionersandclerkemployees
fromrequirementtoresideorregisterwithinthejurisdictionin
whichtheyserve(Sections115.045and115.051);
(6)Allowsappointmentofelectionjudgeswhoresideoutsidethe
requisiteelectionauthority'sjurisdictionwithouttheneedfor
writtenconsentfromtheelectionauthorityinwhosejurisdiction
thepotentialjudgeresides. Proceduresforselectingelection
judgesfromlistssubmittedbypoliticalpartycommitteesis
specified(Section115.081;115.085);
(7)Repealsspecifiedregistrationexceptionsforintrastatenew
residentsandauthorizesregistrationinthestateofMissourifor
suchindividuals(Section115.135);
(8)AuthorizestheDepartmentofRevenuetouseelectronic
applicationswhensendingmaterialstoelectionauthoritiesunder
theexistingvoterregistrationprograminplaceattheDivisionof
MotorVehiclesandDriversLicensing,withintheDepartmentof
Revenue. Nopersonwithdocumentationshowingnon-citizenshipwill
beofferedregistrationtovote,andvoterinformationmaybe
analyzedtoavoidmistakesusingthestatewidevoterregistration
databaseasspecifiedinthebill.Electronicapplicationsshall
besentnolaterthanthreebusinessdaysaftercompletionofa
form.Theelectronicapplicationsshallbesecureandinaformat compatiblewiththeexistingVoterRegistrationSystemunder
Section115.158. TheSecretaryofStateandDirectorofthe
DepartmentofRevenueshallguaranteethesecurityandtransmission
ofelectronicdata.Imagesofsignaturesmaybeusedforthe
purposeofvoterregistration(Sections115.151,115.160,115.960);
(9)Restrictsvoterinformationreleasedbyelectionauthorities
byeliminatingthedateofbirthandprohibitingusesfor
commercialpurposes. Certainrequirementstoreleasesuch
informationtothegeneralpublicarealsorepealedormodified.
Specifiedvoterhistoryinformationwillbeforwardedtothe
SecretaryofStatewithinthreemonthsafteranelection(Sections
115.157and115.289);
(10)Allowsregisteredvoterstofilechangeofaddressformsin
personafterthedeadlinetoregistertovoteincludingonelection
dayattheOfficeoftheElectionAuthorityiftheyprovideatype
ofpersonalidentificationunderSubsection1ofSection115.427
whichinvolvesphotographicidentification (Sections115.165);
(11)Prohibitpaymentforsolicitingvoterregistration
applicationsandrequiresregistrationwiththeSecretaryof
State'sofficeforsolicitingmorethan10voterregistration
applicationsasspecifiedinthebill(Section115.205).
(12)BeginningJanuary1,2024,thebillrequirestheuseofa
paperballotandrepealselectronicvotingsystemlanguagewith
certainexceptionsforvotingequipmentusedforthedisabled. The
billrequireslocalelectionauthoritiestobemembersofthe
CenterforInternetSecurityandallowstheSOStoreviewcyber
securityforlocalelectionauthoritiesandvendorsasspecifiedin
thebill.Testingofvendorproductssuchasprogramsandmachines
isallowedandsubjecttoappropriation(Sections115.225,115.237,
115.447);
(13)Definesabsenteeballotsasthoseauthorizedtobecastaway
fromapollingplaceorintheofficeoftheelectionauthorityor
otherauthorizedlocationdesignatedbytheelectionauthority.
ReferencestoSpaceForceareincludedforpurposesofvoting
processesandelectronicballotinformationauthorizedforthe
ArmedForces(Sections115.257,115.275,115.902);
(14)Allowsuseofabsenteeballotstovoteinpersonwithaform
ofpersonalidentificationasspecifiedinthebill.Notarization
requirementsarealsospecifiedinthebilldependinguponthe
excuseforvotingabsenteeandwhetherornotvotingisconducted
inperson.Affidavitformsaremodified. Thecastingofinperson
absenteeballotswithphotographicidentification isauthorized
onlyifcourtsupholdtheconstitutionality ofphotographic identification requirementsasspecifiedinthebill.No
individualorgroupshallsolicitvotersregardingabsenteeballot
applicationsandsuchapplicationsshallnotbepre-filledand
providedtovoters(Sections115.277and115.279,115.283);
(15)Definescastingofabsenteeballotsasspecifiedinthebill
(Section115.286);
(16)Allowsvoterassistanceincasesoftemporaryconfinementdue
toillnessorphysicaldisabilityonelectionday,butrepeals
specificCOVID-19referencestomail-inballotsthathaveexpired
(Sections115.287,115.291,and115.652);
(17)Specifiesphotographicidentification requirementsforvoting
aregularballot,butallowsuseofprovisionalballotswithany
typeofdocumentationcurrentlyallowedforvoting.Alineitem
appropriationfortheSecretaryofState'sOfficeregardingnotice
ofpersonalidentificationisrepealed. Certainaffidavit
requirementsarerepealedandrequirementsforprovisionalballots
arespecifiedinthebill(Section115.427);
(18)Specifiesthatonceaballotissubmitted,thenitisdeemed
cast(115.435);
(19)RepealsexpiredSection115.302,whichallowedmailin
ballotsduringtheCOVID-19crisisandothersectionsreferencing
obsoleteCOVID-19laws(Section115.652);
(20)Establishesthe"MissouriElectionsSovereigntyAct"which
demarcatesthedistinctionbetweenfederalandstateelectionsand
reservesthepoweroftheGeneralAssemblyoverthoseaspectsof
bothstateandfederalelectionsgrantedtothestatesunderthe
federalconstitutionasspecifiedinthebill(Section115.1200);
(21)Requirescertainstateagenciesandpersonsauthorizedto
administerelectionstoreportcommunications involvingelections
fromthefederalgovernmentanditsagenciesasspecifiedinthe
bill.Theimplementation offederalguidanceconcerningelection
laws,rules,andpolicieswillrequirenoticetotheGeneral
Assemblyandatimelimitof30dayspriortoimplementation.
Violationofimplementation requirementswillresultinafineof
$5000tobeleviedevery30daysuntilanyimplementedguidanceis
withdrawn. ThisprovisionexpiresonFebruary1,2025(Section
115.1505);
(22)Requiresnoticeofthereceiptorintenttodistribute
federalfundsforuseinelectionadministration asspecifiedin
thebill.TheGeneralAssembly,byvote,maydeclineacceptanceof
fundsduringthe30daynoticeperiods. Aviolationofthenotice requirementswillresultinafineintheamountofanyfunds
acceptedordistributedinviolationofthebillandanadditional
$1000.ThisnoticerequirementexpiresonFebruary1,2025
(Section115.1510);
(23)Authorizesanyschooldistricttoadoptspecifiedprovisions
prohibitingstudentsofthemalesexfromparticipatinginathletic
activitiesreservedexclusivelyforfemalesifsuchprovisionsare
approvedbyavoteoftheresidentsoftheschooldistrict. The
jointcommitteeoneducationwillstudypoliciesinvolving
exclusivelymaleandfemaleathleticeventsandissueareportwith
findingsandrecommendations totheGeneralAssemblybeforeJanuary
1,2024(167.177);
(24)Limitstheauthorityorabilityofspecifiedpublicofficials
tonullify,suspend,enjoin,alter,oracceptcompromises
conflictingwithChapters115to128.Stateorfederalcourt
challengestostatestatutesasunconstitutional orpreemptedby
federallaworasotherwisevoidshallrequirenoticetothe
SpeakeroftheHouseofRepresentatives andthePresidentProTem
oftheSenatewithin14days.Methodsforinterventioninlawsuits
byeachhouseorjointinterventionbybothhousesoftheGeneral
Assemblyarespecifiedinthebillandincludehowpublicfundsmay
beuseduponappropriation. Interventionofrightdoesnotwaive
thelegislativeimmunityorlegislativeprivilegeofanymember,
officer,orstaffoftheGeneralAssembly(Section1);and
(25)Createstheoffenseoftamperingwithanelectionofficial
whichisspecifiedinthebillasthereleaseofcertainpersonal
informationaboutelectionofficialswiththeintenttoharass,
threaten,orinfluenceanofficial. Theoffenseoftamperingwith
anelectionofficialshallbeaclassDfelonyunlesstheoffense
resultsindeathorbodilyinjurytotheofficialoramemberof
theofficial’sfamily,theoffenseshallbeaclassBfelony.
ThisbillissimilartoHB2113(2022)andHB738Reperfected
(2021).