COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH
OVERSIGHT DIVISION
FISCAL NOTE
L.R. No.:0696H.03P Bill No.:Perfected HCS for HB Nos. 267 & 347 Subject:Elections; Federal - State Relations Type:Original Date:April 18, 2023Bill Summary:This proposal reinstates the Presidential Preference Primary.
FISCAL SUMMARY
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON GENERAL REVENUE FUNDFUND AFFECTEDFY 2024FY 2025FY 2026
General Revenue*
Could exceed
($5,000,000)$0$0
Total Estimated Net
Effect on General
Revenue
Could exceed
($5,000,000)$0$0
*Costs of Could exceed $5 million in April 2024 (FY 2024) for the state’s proportional share for
holding a Presidential Preference Primary Election in combination with the Municipal Election.
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON OTHER STATE FUNDSFUND AFFECTEDFY 2024FY 2025FY 2026Total Estimated Net
Effect on Other State
Funds $0$0$0
Numbers within parentheses: () indicate costs or losses. L.R. No. 0696H.03P
Bill No. Perfected HCS for HB Nos. 267 & 347
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ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FEDERAL FUNDSFUND AFFECTEDFY 2024FY 2025FY 2026Total Estimated Net
Effect on All Federal
Funds $0$0$0
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FULL TIME EQUIVALENT (FTE)FUND AFFECTEDFY 2024FY 2025FY 2026Total Estimated Net
Effect on FTE 000
☒ Estimated Net Effect (expenditures or reduced revenues) expected to exceed $250,000 in any
of the three fiscal years after implementation of the act or at full implementation of the act.
☐ Estimated Net Effect (savings or increased revenues) expected to exceed $250,000 in any of
the three fiscal years after implementation of the act or at full implementation of the act.
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON LOCAL FUNDSFUND AFFECTEDFY 2024FY 2025FY 2026Local Government(Unknown)$0$0 L.R. No. 0696H.03P
Bill No. Perfected HCS for HB Nos. 267 & 347
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FISCAL ANALYSIS
ASSUMPTION
Bill as Whole
Officials from the Office of the Secretary of State (SOS) assume this bill would reinstate the
presidential preference primary (PPP) election which was previously held in March of any
presidential election year.
Amounts paid by the state to the counties for proportional costs for the Primary and General
elections for 2022 are below. Note: As of 4/18/2023 SOS still has a number of outstanding
counties that they are working with to audit and complete any payments or reimbursements.
Primary - $3,566,001.71
General - $3,704,696.17
Based on these numbers for a presidential primary to be held in conjunction with an April
Municipal Election SOS estimates the state share for a 2024 Presidential Preference Primary to
be $5M to $10M due to the fact that the primary and general elections include statewide issues
and entire county races where a municipal election may include city issues, some school districts
plus water, ambulance etc. Additionally, since turnout would be higher with a presidential
election, other political subdivisions may forgo putting any issues on the municipal election
which would lead to the state paying for the entire election.
Further, the municipal elections may not include entire county issues so state share of costs
would be depending on what could be included on the ballot. Therefore; the state would be
shouldering most of the cost since it would be a statewide election for every county. Election
costs continue to rise due to inflation, more cost for election judges and poll workers and election
supplies.
Oversight notes section 115.785 states all costs, as specified under 115.065, incurred from a
presidential preference primary shall be paid by the state, except that, pursuant to section
115.065, costs shall be shared proportionately by the state and any political subdivisions and
special districts holding an election on the same day as any such primary. For any county with
more than five hundred polling places, the state shall assist in assuring adequate poll workers and
equipment. The payment of election costs is subject to appropriation by the General Assembly.
However, if they assume that the presidential preference primary were to be fully appropriated as
it has been in years past, SOS anticipates a cost of $5 million to $10 million. Oversight has
reflected, in this fiscal note, a cost that could exceed $5 million due to reinstating the
requirement to hold a PPP. The next scheduled Presidential Preference Primary election would
be in April 2024 (FY24). Therefore, Oversight will reflect a potential election cost for
reimbursement to local political subdivisions in FY 2024. L.R. No. 0696H.03P
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In addition, on a previous version, SOS stated this bill would require SOS to assist in assuring
adequate poll workers and equipment for counties containing more than 500 polling places. For
the most recent general election held in November 2022, no county claimed to operate more than
500 polling places. However, at least two counties did claim more than 500 precincts at that
election, so there may be a potential cost if these counties were forced to open additional polling
places. The scope of such potential cost is unknown.
Oversight notes there is no way to determine if particular counties will be operating more than
500 polling places. Therefore, Oversight will also reflect a $0 to unknown cost to the state for the
potential cost of poll workers and equipment for counties containing more than 500 polling
places.
In response to a previous version, SOS also assumed many bills considered by the General
Assembly include provisions allowing or requiring agencies to submit rules and regulations to
implement the act. The SOS is provided with core funding to handle a certain amount of normal
activity resulting from each year’s legislative session. The fiscal impact for this fiscal note to the
SOS for Administrative Rules is less than $5,000. The SOS recognizes that this is a small
amount and does not expect that additional funding would be required to meet these costs.
However, the SOS also recognizes that many such bills may be passed by the General Assembly
in a given year and that collectively the costs may be in excess of what the office can sustain
with the core budget. Therefore, the SOS reserves the right to request funding for the cost of
supporting administrative rules requirements should the need arise based on a review of the
finally approved bills signed by the governor.
Oversight assumes the SOS could absorb the costs of printing and distributing regulations
related to this proposal. If multiple bills pass which require the printing and distribution of
regulations at substantial costs, the SOS could require additional resources.
Officials from the Platte County Board of Elections assume the cost to hold a Presidential
Preference Primary in 2020 was $84,155. The cost to hold a Presidential Preference Primary in
2024 should be near but slightly higher than the 2020 amount.
In response to a previous version, officials from the St. Louis City Board of Elections assumed
the cost of a city-wide election runs between $300,000 and $400,000.
In response to a previous version, officials from the Kansas City Board of Elections assumed it
will cost the State approximately $650,000 to conduct this election in the Kansas City portion of
Jackson County.
In response to a previous version, officials from the Greene County Clerk’s Office
SOS’ costs for March 2020 was $192,162. The total cost of the March 2020 election was
$266,341. As the State does not pay for machine rental, poll pad rental, and other portions of L.R. No. 0696H.03P
Bill No. Perfected HCS for HB Nos. 267 & 347
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election costs, the County costs were approximately $74,178 for the machine rental, poll pad
rental, a portion of clerk salary, a portion of ballot supplies.
Oversight will reflect an unknown cost to local election authorities for election expenses
(machine rental, poll pad rental, a portion of clerk salary, and a portion of ballot supplies) not
covered by state as mentioned above by the Greene County Clerk’s Office.
In response to a previous version, officials from the St. Louis County Board of Elections
assumed the proposal will have no fiscal impact on their respective organizations.
House Amendment 1
Oversight assumes House Amendment 1 will have no fiscal impact on state or local
governments.
House Amendment 2, as amended
In response to a similar proposal, HB 783 from 2023, officials from the Office of the State
Public Defender assumed the proposed legislation creates a new offense under section 115.635
which could result in additional cases eligible for SPD representation. The number of additional
cases is unknown and as a result the fiscal impact is unknown. However, if the offenses were
classified as class D misdemeanors, jail time would not be a possible sentence and the offense
therefore would not be eligible for SPD representation. Or the possibility of jail time could be
removed by limiting the punishment as is to a fine.
Oversight notes in FY22 the SPD was appropriated moneys for 53 additional FTE. Oversight
assumes this proposal will create a minimal number of new cases and that the SPD can absorb
the additional caseload required by this proposal with current staff and resources. Therefore,
Oversight will reflect no fiscal impact to the SPD for fiscal note purposes. However, if multiple
bills pass which require additional staffing and duties, the SPD may request funding through the
appropriation process.
Officials from the Department of Corrections, the Missouri House of Representatives, the
Missouri Senate, the Missouri Highway Patrol, the Missouri Office of Prosecution Services,
and the
their respective organizations. Oversight does not have any information to the contrary.
Therefore, Oversight will reflect a zero impact in the fiscal note for these agencies.
In response to a similar proposal, HB 783 from 2023, Office of the State Courts Administrator
assumed the proposal will have no fiscal impact on their organization.
In response to a similar proposal, HB 783 from 2023, officials from the Jackson County Board
of Elections and the Platte County Board of Elections both assumed the proposal will have no
fiscal impact on their respective organizations. L.R. No. 0696H.03P
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In response to a similar proposal, HB 783 from 2023, officials from the St. Louis County Board
of Elections and the Greene County Clerk’s Office
fiscal impact on their respective organizations. Oversight does not have any information to the
contrary. Therefore, Oversight will reflect a zero impact in the fiscal note for these agencies.
House Amendment 3
Oversight assumes House Amendment 1 will have no fiscal impact on state or local
governments.
House Amendment 4
Officials from the Jackson County Board of Elections assume combining a non-partisan
General Municipal Election with a partisan Presidential Preference Primary would be
burdensome for election officials and confusing for the election judges and voters of the State of
Missouri.
Moving the Presidential Preference Primary to April gives it even less meaning than placing it on
a March ballot since Super Tuesday will be held March 5
th
leaving their Presidential Preference
Primary meaningless and costly.
Combining the two elections will also cost their local municipalities more in election judge pay,
poll rental, and ballot costs. It will quadruple the ballot order to make available party ballots and
place a burden on the election judges to manage an already confusing municipal election (split
polls) with added party ballots to distribute. Jackson County could have up to 20 – 30 ballot
styles in polling locations.
This is an irresponsible burden for the State to place on local jurisdictions, judges, and election
officials to save money.
If the State chooses to bring the PPP back it should not be intermingled with a nonpartisan
election.
The costs for their local jurisdictions in the April 2022 General Municipal Election was
$539,762.85. Voter turnout was 14.57%.
The 2020 Presidential Preference Primary cost was $560,577.19 with a turnout of 27.38%.
ADDITIONAL COSTS ADDED BY COMBINING PPP WITH GENERAL MUNICIPAL
ELECTION
Addition Ballot Cost (party ballots) - $36,000.00
Additional Polling Locations - $ 5,100.00
Equipment Rent (which state refuses to reimburse) - $30,000.00 L.R. No. 0696H.03P
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Additional Security (partisan election) - $10,000.00
Additional Election Judges to manage ballot styles - $50,000.00
Additional Election Support for ballot programming- $10,000.00
Informational Mailers to Voters Explaining Combination
of Elections - $156,000.00
Total Additional Costs - $287,100.00
This does not include all other costs the State would share proportionally – estimated to be
$420,000.00 based on the March 2020 Presidential Primary.
Officials from the Greene County Clerk’s Office assume the following:
For the March 2020 election, the SOS Costs was $192,162.17. The total cost of the March 2020
election was $266,340.51. As the State does not pay for machine rental, pollpad rental, and other
portions of election costs, the County costs were approximately $74,178.34 for the machine
rental, pollpad rental, a portion of clerk salary, a portion of ballot supplies.
For a rough estimate for April with a presidential preference, the SOS proportional costs would
be $108,311.20. The County costs would be $36,338.89 for the items that the State does not pay
for. However, this does increase the total cost of an April Election to $415,067.12 from an
estimated $361,710.81. The difference is a rough savings for the State of 83,850.97.
If you take final costs for the March PPP, $266,340.51 and add that to the estimated April
election cost, $361,710.81 the totals equals $628,051.32. It is roughly anticipated that the
combined elections will cost $415,067.12. If you subtract $415,067.12 from $628,051.32 it
equals $212,984.20 of savings for taxpayers. More time would be needed to analyze the direct
cost savings to the state and any direct cost savings to the local entities.
Oversight assumes combining a non-partisan General Municipal Election with a partisan
Presidential Preference Primary will increase cost to local election authorities. There will need to
be additional ballots printed, additional polling locations, additional security, staff, and election
judges required. Therefore, Oversight will reflect an unknown cost to local election authorities
on the fiscal note in FY2024.
Oversight also notes there will be an increase split cost to the entities participating in that
election. Oversight has no way to determine how many entities or issues will be on any one
particular municipal ballot. Therefore oversight will reflect an unknown cost to local political
subdivisions in FY2024. L.R. No. 0696H.03P
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FISCAL IMPACT – State GovernmentFY 2024
(10 Mo.)
FY 2025FY 2026GENERAL REVENUE FUNDCost - SOS §115.785
Proportional share of election costs for
PPP
Could exceed
($5,000,000)$0$0
Cost – SOS §115.785
Additional poll workers and equipment
$0 to
(Unknown)$0$0
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
Could exceed
($5,000,000)$0$0
FISCAL IMPACT – Local GovernmentFY 2024
(10 Mo.)
FY 2025FY 2026LOCAL POLITICAL
SUBDIVISIONS
Revenue Gain - Local Election
Authorities - §115.785 reimbursement
of election costs for PPP
Could exceed
$5,000,000
Cost – Political Subdivision
Proportional share of Municipal/PPP
election(Unknown)$0$0
Cost – Local Election Authorities
Additional printed ballots, polling
locations, and staff for combining
Municipal and PPP elections(Unknown)$0$0
Cost - Local Election Authorities
§115.785 - holding PPP election ($10,000,000)$0$0
Cost – Local Election Authorities
Election expenses not covered by State(Unknown)$0$0
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON
LOCAL POLITICAL
SUBDIVISIONS(Unknown)$0$0 L.R. No. 0696H.03P
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FISCAL IMPACT – Small Business
No direct fiscal impact to small businesses would be expected as a result of this proposal.
FISCAL DESCRIPTION
This bill reinstates the presidential preference primary election, to be held statewide on the
second Tuesday after the first Monday in April of each presidential election year.
Anyone who files a request to be included on the presidential primary ballot is not prohibited
from filing or appearing on any ballot as a party candidate for nomination to another office.
The bill specifies that on or before the 10th Tuesday prior to the date of the presidential
preference primary, the Secretary of State shall announce the official list of presidential
candidates for each established political party.
All costs of a presidential preference primary shall be paid by the state, except that, costs shall be
shared proportionately by the state and any political subdivisions and special districts holding an
election on the same day as any such primary. For any county with more than 500 polling places,
the state shall assist in assuring adequate poll workers and equipment.
This legislation is not federally mandated, would not duplicate any other program and would not
require additional capital improvements or rental space. L.R. No. 0696H.03P
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SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Office of the Secretary of State
Department of Corrections
Missouri Highway Patrol
Office of the State Public Defender
Attorney General’s Office
Missouri Office of Prosecution Services
Office of the State Courts Administrator
Missouri House of Representatives
Missouri Senate
Jackson County Board of Elections
Platte County Board of Elections
St. Louis City Board of Elections
St. Louis County Board of Elections
Kansas City Board of Elections
Greene County Clerk’s Office
Julie MorffRoss StropeDirectorAssistant DirectorApril 18, 2023April 18, 2023