SB 169 - Currently, in order to vote absentee, voters must provide an excuse for not being able to vote in-person on the designated election day. This act allows any person to vote absentee in person without such an excuse beginning the second Tuesday prior to an election and ending at 5 p.m. on the Monday before the election. Such voting shall occur during regular business hours at the election authority, including for a period of eight consecutive hours on each Saturday during such period. The act requires the General Assembly to appropriate funds to cover the additional staffing costs for such early voting. This act establishes identification requirements for voting. Voters shall produce a nonexpired Missouri driver's license; a nonexpired or nonexpiring Missouri nondriver's license; any identification containing a photograph issued by the Missouri National Guard, the United States armed forces, or the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; or any document issued by the State of Missouri or the United States that contains the name of the individual seeking to vote, a photograph of the individual, and an expiration date later than the date of the most recent general election.
Individuals who appear without an approved form of photo identification may vote if they sign an affidavit and present a secondary form of identification. Secondary forms of identification are limited to ID's issued by an institution of higher education; a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that contains the name and address of the voter; or a driver's license or state identification card issued by another state.
The election authority shall provide advance notice of the identification requirements to be included in the election authority's elections notices.
The state shall provide one approved form of photo notification required to vote at no cost to any voter who does not already possess such photo identification, who qualifies for such photo identification, and who desires such photo identification in order to vote. Such a voter may apply for a non-driver's license at no cost after signing an affidavit to verify that he or she does not already have any form of photo identification approved for voting. The total cost of providing such photo identification shall be borne by the state of Missouri from funds appropriated to the department of revenue for that specific purpose.
This act is similar to SB 170 (2015), the perfected version of HB 30 (2015), HB 240 (2015), SB 511 (2014), SB 27 (2013), SCS/HB 1104 (2012), SCS/SB 442 (2012), HCS#2/SB 3 (2011), HB 1966 (2010), SB 523 (2009), and SB 1014 (2006).
SCOTT SVAGERA