HCSHB507--ELECTIONS(McGaugh)
COMMITTEEOFORIGIN:StandingCommitteeonElections
Currently,electionchallengerscanbephysicallypresentin
pollinglocationswhileballotsarecastonelectionday.This
billallowselectionchallengersinfirstclasscountiesand
chartercountiestobephysicallypresentwhileballotsarecast
duringthein-personabsenteevotingperiod.
Thebillrequiresthechairofthecountycommitteeofeach
politicalpartynamedontheballottodesignateelectionwatchers
fourdaysbeforeawatchercanenterapollingorcounting
location. Informationistobepresentedtoandsignedoffbythe
localelectionauthority. Ifanelectionauthoritydeterminesthat
awatcherdoesnotmeetthestatutoryqualifications, thechaircan
designateareplacementwatcherbefore5:00pmontheMondaybefore
theelection.
Thisbillallowselectionwatchersinfirstclasscountiesand
chartercountiestobephysicallypresentatin-personabsentee
votinglocationswhileballotsarebeingcountedorpreparedfor
counting.
Thisbillallowsanoticeofelectiontobesentbyemail.
Thebillmovesthefilingdatesforadeclarationofcandidacyin
certainpoliticalsubdivisionsandspecialdistrictsbackbyone
week,fromthe17thTuesdaypriortotheelectionuntilthe14th
Tuesdaypriortotheelection,tothe16thTuesdaypriortothe
electionuntilthe13thTuesdaypriortotheelection.
Currently,coveredvoterseligibletoregistertovotecanvotein
certainelectionsbysubmittingaFederalpostcardapplicationto
applytovoteattheirpollingplace.Thisbillchangesthis
requirementfromthepollingplacetotheofficeoftheelection
authorityonelectionday.
Currently,interstateformerresidentsandnewresidentscanvote
absenteeforpresidentialandvicepresidentialelectors. This
billallowsthemtheoptiontovoteforthoseelectorsatthe
officeoftheelectionauthorityonelectionday.
Thisbillprovidesthatalllistsofabsenteeballotapplications
forpeoplewithpermanentdisabilitieswillbekeptconfidential
andmustnotbepostedordisplayedinanareaopentothegeneral
publicnorshowntoanyunauthorizedperson. Thisbillrequiresanypersonwhofilesasacandidateforapublic
officethatperformscountyfunctionsintheCityofSt.Louisto
providecopiesofpaidreceiptsorno-tax-duestatementsforlocal
personalandrealpropertytaxesreceivedfromtheAssessortothe
electionauthority.
Currently,aprovisionalballotcanbecastonlyinaStateor
Federalelection. Thisbillallowsaprovisionalballottobecast
inanypublicelection.
Thebillprovidesthatvotesforwrite-incandidatesmustonlybe
countedforcandidateswhohavefiledadeclarationofintenttobe
awrite-incandidate,evenifnocandidatehasfiledforthat
office.
ThisaddsthefollowingactivitiestoclassIIIelectionoffenses:
(1)Threateningtoharmorengaginginconductreasonably
calculatedtoharassanelectionofficialoramemberoftheir
family;
(2)Attemptingtopressureanelectionofficialormemberoftheir
familytoviolateaprovisionofelectionlaw;
(3)Disseminatingthroughanymeansthepersonalinformationofan
electionofficialormemberoftheirfamilyforthepurposeof
threateningtoharmorattemptingtopressuretheofficialor
memberoftheirfamilytoviolateaprovisionofelectionlaw.
Ifaviolationresultsindeathorbodilyinjurytoanelection
officialoramemberoftheirfamily,theoffenseisaclassB
felony.