HCSHB2140--ELECTIONS
SPONSOR: McGaugh
COMMITTEEACTION:Voted"DoPasswithHCS"bytheStanding
CommitteeonElectionsandElectedOfficialsbyavoteof14to2
with1votingpresent.
ThefollowingisasummaryoftheHouseCommitteeSubstituteforHB
2140.
Thisbillmodifiesprovisionsrelatedtoelections.
Thebillallowstheofficeroragencycallinganelectiontonotify
theelectionauthorityresponsibleforconductingtheelectionof
anelectionviaemail.
Thebillchangestheopeningdateforfilingadeclarationof
candidacythatisnotspecifiedbylaworcharterforanofficein
apoliticalsubdivisionorspecialdistrictfromthe17thTuesday
priortotheelectiontothe16thTuesdaypriortotheelection.
Italsochangestheclosingfilingdateforfilingadeclarationof
candidacyforsuchofficesfromthe14thTuesdaypriortothe
electiontothe13thTuesdaypriortotheelection. Ifthe13th
Tuesdaypriortotheelectionisastateorfederalholiday,the
closingfilingdateshallbe5:00p.m.onthenextdaythatisnot
astateorfederalholiday.
Currently,coveredvoterseligibletoregistertovote,interstate
formerresidents,andnewresidentsmayvotebyabsenteeballotfor
presidentialandvicepresidentialelectors. Thisbillallowssuch
voterstovoteattheofficeoftheelectionauthorityonelection
dayforsuchelectors.
Thebillspecifiesthatlistsofabsenteevoterswithpermanent
disabilitiesshallbekeptconfidentialandshallnotbepostedor
displayedinanareaopentothepublicnorshowntoany
unauthorizedperson.
Currently,eachabsenteeballotreceivedbytheelectionauthority
mustbemarkedasreceivedonthelistandifanyofthestatements
onanyballotenvelopehavenotbeencompleted,theabsenteeballot
isrejected. Thisbilladdsthattheelectionauthorityshall
comparethesignatureontheballotenvelopewiththesignatureof
thevoteronthevoter'sregistrationrecordandifthesignature
isinconsistentwiththevoter'ssignatureonthevoter's
registrationrecord,theenvelopeshallberejected. Currently,provisionalballotsareavailableatelectionswhere
federalorstatewidecandidatesorstatewideballotmeasuresareon
theballot.Thisbillmakesprovisionalballotsavailableatany
publicelection.
Thisbilladdsthreateningtoharmorengaginginconduct
reasonablycalculatedtoharassoralarmanelectionofficialor
memberofone'sfamily,attemptingtopressureanelectionofficial
toviolateaprovisionofelectionlaw,anddoxxinganelection
officialormemberofone'sfamilyasclassthreeelection
offenses. Iftheprohibitedactivityresultsindeathorbodily
injurytoanelectionofficialormemberoftheofficial'sfamily,
theoffenseshallbeaclassBfelony.
Currently,electioneering activitiesareprohibitedwithina
certaindistanceofapollinglocationonelectionday.Thisbill
appliesthesamerestrictionstolocationswherein-personabsentee
votingoccursduringtheabsenteevotingperiod.Thebillalso
addscirculatinginitiativeandreferendumpetitionstothislist
ofprohibitedactivitieswithinacertaindistanceofapolling
location.
Thisbillcreatesthe"MissouriElectionsSovereigntyAct".The
billspecifiesthattheStateofMissourireservestherightto
determinethetime,place,andmannerofitsownstateelections,
anddeclaresthatanyfederallawsregulatingthesameshallapply
onlytofederalelections.
Thefollowingisasummaryofthepublictestimonyfromthe
committeehearing. Thetestimonywasbasedontheintroduced
versionofthebill.
PROPONENTS: Supporterssaythatthesearenecessarychangesto
improveelectionadministration. Changingthefilingdatewill
eliminateconfusionaboutwhetherfilingcanbeacceptedduringa
stateholiday. Additionalprotectionsforelectionofficialsare
necessarybecauseofhighturnoverandanatmosphereofincreased
tensionatpollingplaces.Electionadministrators willbebetter
abletoensurethesafetyandsecurityofelections
TestifyinginpersonforthebillwereRepresentative Mcgaugh;
SierraClubMissouriChapter;DeniseLieberman,MissouriVoter
ProtectionCoalition;SecureDemocracy;AdvocatesofPlanned
ParenthoodofTheSt.LouisRegionandSouthwestMissouri;Eric
Fey,St.LouisCountyElectionBoard;MissouriNEA;MissouriSchool
BoardsAssociation;MissouriMunicipalLeague;CityofSt.Peters;
andArnieDienoff. OPPONENTS: Opponentssaythatadditionstoelectionoffenseswill
beusedtointimidatepeoplewhoquestionthevalidityof
elections. Someoftheactivitieslistedarealreadyillegal,so
it'sunnecessarytocodifythemhere.Othersaretoobroador
poorlydefinedandcouldleadtoabuse.Thisbillfollowsa
patternofthegovernmentanditsfriendspittingthemselves
againsttherestofthecitizens. Opponentsmusewhyelection
officialsshouldgetspecialprotectionoverprivateindustries
likeoilcompanies.
TestifyinginpersonagainstthebillwereARMORVINE,LLC.
OTHERS:Otherstestifyingonthebillsayelectionoffensesare
underthepurviewoftheSecretaryofState,butifanoffenseis
egregiousthatofficewillcontactlocallawenforcement.
TestifyinginpersononthebillwasTrishVincent,Missouri
SecretaryofState.
Writtentestimonyhasbeensubmittedforthisbill.Thefull
writtentestimonyandwitnessestestifyingonlinecanbefound
underTestimonyonthebillpageontheHousewebsite.