To amend chapter 115, RSMo, relating to the conduct of elections, by adding thereto one new section relating to a pilot program to provide notice of election to registered voters by mail.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI, AS FOLLOWS:

Section A. Chapter 115, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 115.130, to read as follows:

115.130. 1. The secretary of state shall, by rule, establish and implement a program whereby the election authorities who agree to participate in the program within four test areas of the state, to be determined by the secretary of state, shall give notice of election by mail to each registered voter in the area for the November, 1996, general election and for the April, 1997, election.

2. Notices mailed to registered voters pursuant to subsection 1 of this section shall be mailed not later than the fourteenth day prior to the election, and shall include the date and time of the election and the location of the voter's polling place. The notice shall also include a sample ballot. The sample ballot shall contain all issues and candidates to be voted upon within the test area in the same order which such issues and candidates appear on the official ballot.

3. The secretary of state shall evaluate the effectiveness of the required notice by mail and its influence upon voter knowledge and turnout, relative to prior elections in the test area and relative to the same election in surrounding areas. The secretary of state may provide election authorities with prepaid postcards to be delivered with the sample ballots. The postcard may include such questions as are necessary to evaluate the pilot program. The election authority may include an application for absentee ballot with the sample ballots. The secretary of state shall, before December 31, 1997, deliver to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president pro tem of the senate and the governor a report of the findings and determinations pursuant to this subsection and any recommendations concerning proposed legislation relating to mailed notice of elections.

4. No rule or portion of a rule promulgated under the authority of this section shall become effective until it has been promulgated pursuant to the provisions of section 536.024, RSMo.