SCS/HCS/HB 507 - This act modifies and creates various provisions relating to elections.ELECTION CHALLENGERS
(Section 115.105)
The act permits election challengers to be present in a polling place during the absentee voting period. Additionally, the act moves up the time period when the chair of a county committee is required to designate challengers. Currently, challengers are to be designated not later than four business days prior to the election. This act requires designations to be made not later than four business days prior to the beginning of the absentee voting period.
This provision is identical to a provision in HCS/HBs 126 & 367 (2025) and HCS/HB 794 (2025) and substantially similar to SB 740 (2025) and HB 638 (2025).
ELECTION WATCHERS
(Section 115.107)
The act additionally provides that no later than four business days before a watcher may enter a polling or counting location, the chair of each county committee of each political party named on the ballot shall provide signed official designation forms with the names of the designated watchers and substitutes to the local election authority for confirmation of eligibility to serve as a watcher. The local election authority, after verifying the eligibility of each designated and substitute watcher, shall sign off on the official designation forms, unless the watcher is found not to have the qualifications established by law. If the election authority determines that a watcher does not meet the qualifications, the designating party chair may designate a replacement watcher and provide the local election authority with the name of the replacement watcher before 5:00 p.m. of the Monday preceding the election. The designating chair may substitute watchers at his or her discretion during such hours.
This provision is identical to a provision in HCS/HB 794 (2025).
NOTICES OF ELECTION
(Section 115.125)
The act allows a notice of election to be sent by email.
This provision is substantially similar to a provision in SCS/SB 182 (2025), HCS/HB 794 (2025), SB 926 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 1525 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 2140 (2024), and a provision in HCS/HB 2895 (2024).
CANDIDATE FILING DEADLINES - LOCAL OFFICES
(Section 115.127)
Under current law, the period for filing a declaration of candidacy in certain political subdivisions and special districts is from 8:00 a.m. on the 17th Tuesday prior to the election until 5:00 p.m. on the 14th Tuesday prior to the election. This act changes that period to 8:00 a.m. on the 16th Tuesday prior to the election until 5:00 p.m. on the 13th Tuesday prior to the election, unless the 13th Tuesday prior to an election falls on a holiday, then the closing of filing shall be at 5:00 p.m. on the next day that is not a holiday.
This provision is identical to a provision in SCS/SB 182 (2025), a provision in HCS/HBs 126 & 367 (2025), HB 208 (2025), a provision in HCS/HB 532 (2025), SB 774 (2024), a provision in SB 926 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 1525 (2024), HB 1604 (2024), a provision in SCS/HB 2084 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 2140 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 2206 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 2895 (2024), a provision in SCS/SB 346 (2023), and CCS/HS/HCS/SS#2/SCS/SB 96 (2023) and substantially similar to HB 2225 (2024), HCS/HB 1214 (2023), provisions in the perfected HCS/HBs 267 & 347 (2023), and HCS/HB 783 (2023).
ABSENTEE VOTING
(Sections 115.277 and 115.300)
Current law allows voters to vote absentee without an excuse two weeks prior to an election. This act extends that period to four weeks. This provision is similar to a provision in HCS/HBs 126 & 367 (2025).
The act allows eligible covered voters to vote absentee by submitting a federal postcard application at the office of the election authority on election day even though the person is not registered. Interstate former residents and new residents may vote by absentee ballot at the office of the election authority on election day for the offices for which such voters are entitled to vote. This provision is identical to a provision in SCS/SB 182 (2025), a provision in HCS/HBs 126 & 367 (2025), a provision in SB 926 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 1525 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 2140 (2024), and a provision in HCS/HB 2895 (2024).
The act provides that all lists of absentee ballot applications for persons with permanent disabilities shall be kept confidential. Such lists of applications shall not be posted or displayed in an area open to the general public, nor shall such lists of applications be shown to any unauthorized person.
This provision is identical to provisions in SCS/SB 182 (2025), HCS/HBs 126 & 367 (2025), a provision in SB 926 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 1525 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 2140 (2024), and a provision in HCS/HB 2895 (2024), substantially similar to a provision in SCS/SB 346 (2023), and similar to a provision in the perfected HCS/HBs 267 & 347 (2023), a provision in HCS/HB 783 (2023), and a provision in CCS/HS/HCS/SS#2/SCS/SB 96 (2023).
Under current law, if the statement on any absentee ballot envelope has not been completed, the absentee ballot is required to be rejected. Under this act, the election authority is required to notify the voter that the envelope is missing information by all means reasonably calculated to make contact with the voter. The voter must be permitted an opportunity to supply the missing information by completing a new statement and delivering it to the election authority by any means authorized by law for delivering absentee ballots. The Secretary of State is responsible for developing an affidavit form to be used for such purposes. The act expressly prohibits changing any selections made on the ballot contained within the ballot envelope.
Only the office of the election authority is permitted to contact voters pursuant to this act, provided the election authority is permitted to deputize employees of the county, as described in the act.
Voters have until the close of polls on election day to supply missing information on the absentee ballot envelope. If a voter fails to supply the missing information prior to that time, the absentee ballot shall be rejected.
The act requires all ballot envelopes to be kept in the possession of the election authority, in addition to other requirements in current law.
Current law permits election authorities to prepare absentee ballots for tabulation not earlier than the fifth day prior to the election. This act repeals the five day limitation and permits preparation of absentee ballots for tabulation upon receipt.
The act repeals a provision stipulating that absentee ballots that are received by an LEA in person are deemed cast when received prior to election day and absentee ballots that are received through a common carrier are deemed cast when received prior to the closing of polls. Furthermore, the repealed provision provides that absentee ballots received by the LEA through a common carrier such as the United States Postal Service are required to be received prior to the time fixed by law for the closing of polls on election day.
These provisions are substantially similar to SB 606 (2025), SB 210 (2023), HB 1184 (2023) and similar to SB 149 (2023), HB 864 (2023), SB 900 (2022), and SB 266 (2021).
QUALIFICATIONS FOR OFFICE - ST. LOUIS CITY
(Section 115.306)
This act requires any person who files as a candidate for election to a public office that performs county functions in the city of St. Louis to file an affidavit with the election authority and shall attach thereto official copies of receipts or no-tax-due statements received from the collector and official statements from the collector that indicate the person has paid all taxes due and is not delinquent in any tax. The election authority shall review such documentation and the affirmation of tax payments.
This provision is identical to SB 331 (2025), HB 1005 (2025), and HCS/HB 1534 (2024).
CASTING PROVISIONAL BALLOTS
(Section 115.430)
The act expands a provision of law governing the casting and counting of provisional ballots to all public elections, rather than just particular primary or general elections.
This provision is identical to provisions in SCS/SB 182 (2025), HCS/HBs 126 & 367 (2025), HCS/HB 1525 (2024), HB 2052 (2024), HCS/HB 2140 (2024), HCS/HB 2895 (2024), SCS/SB 346 (2023), the perfected HCS/HBs 267 & 347 (2023), and a provision in HCS/HB 783 (2023).
WRITE-IN CANDIDATES - REPEAL OF EXEMPTION FOR ELECTIONS WITHOUT PARTY CANDIDATES (Section 115.453)
Current law provides that votes for write-in candidates are only counted for candidates who have filed a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate. Current law also provides an exemption to this requirement in instances where no candidate has filed for the office in question. This act repeals the exemption so that write-in candidates are only counted when a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate has been filed with the proper election authority.
This provision is identical to a provision in SCS/SB 182 (2025).
ELECTION OFFENSE - ELECTIONEERING
(Section 115.637)
This act expands the election offense of exit polling, surveying, sampling, electioneering, distributing election literature, posting signs or placing vehicles bearing signs with respect to any candidate or question to be voted on at an election within 50 feet of the door to a polling place, rather than 25 feet as provided in current law, provided that candidates may be up to 25 feet from the door at any time at which they are not seeking to vote. Violation of this provision is punishable by imprisonment of not more than 1 year or by a fine of not more than $2,500 or by both such imprisonment and fine.
This provision is identical to a provision in SCS/SB 182 (2025).
PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE PRIMARY ELECTION
(Sections 115.105, 115.123, and 115.755 through 115.904)
The act reinstates the presidential preference primary election to be held on the first Tuesday in March of each year in which a presidential election is held.
These provisions are substantially similar to SB 417 (2025), SB 670 (2025), provisions in HCS/HBs 126 & 367 (2025), SB 1480 (2024), SB 1120 (2024), HCS/HB 1525 (2024), HB 2618 (2024), HCS/HB 2895 (2024), SB 602 (2023), HB 267 (2023), HB 347 (2023), HB 738 (2023) and certain provisions in CCS/HS/HCS/SS#2/SCS/SB 96 (2023).
SCOTT SVAGERA