HCS/SB 132 - This act revises election laws, as they pertain to voting and voter registration, petitions, candidates, political parties, ballots, election dates and deadlines.

VOTING AND VOTER REGISTRATION.

Voter registration provisions are modified to comply with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (Motor Voter), as prescribed by the Secretary of State. The three different methods of registering (in person, mail and motor vehicle registration) are addressed. Voters who move into, out of or within the state are given separate designations for registration purposes.

This act also modifies provisions passed last year with regard to disabled voters. Voters with permanent disabilities would be able to receive absentee ballots without a physician's statement, and the one-year renewal provision is removed. A disabled voter would receive an absentee ballot application for every election.

PETITIONS AND THE PETITION PROCESS.

Provisions relating to the petition process are modified to conform with Missouri Supreme Court decisions and to harmonize the petition process with current requirements for bills introduced in the General Assembly.

The petition shall contain the full text, including brackets and underlining, in accordance with Article III, Sections 28 and 50 of the Missouri Constitution.

Summary statements to appear on the ballot shall be prepared by the Secretary of state, (no longer done by the Committee on Legislative Research). The State Auditor shall prepare the fiscal note and fiscal note summary, and the Attorney General shall approve the fiscal note summary and summary statement. Summary statements are limited to no more than 50 words for Bills and Joint Resolutions submitted to the voters by the General Assembly, and to no more than 100 words for petitions. Fiscal note summaries for petitions, Bills and Joint Resolutions shall contain no more than 50 words.

CANDIDATES AND POLITICAL PARTIES.

This act addresses what happens when a candidate for office withdraws, dies or is disqualified, depending on when the event occurs (8 weeks, 6 weeks, 4 weeks) and the circumstances surrounding the candidacy (incumbent or only candidate, etc.). Possible actions include reopening the candidacy (by or before 8 weeks), allowing established political parties to select the candidate (by or before final date to withdraw), allowing party nominating committees to select a party candidate, or leaving a vacancy on the ballot.

Currently, a new political party obtains established party status if it receives more than 2% of all votes cast for the office. The party loses established status if at any two consecutive elections the party fails to have a candidate. A party can become established and lose established status at the statewide, county and district levels.

Under this act, an established party also can lose established status if it fails to receive more than 2% of all votes cast for the office, at the respective statewide, county or district level.

BALLOTS.

This act allows candidates to be placed on the ballot in random order for local elections--currently this only applies to candidates for office at the state level.

Last year, a provision passed which allowed candidates for county committeemen and committeewomen whose are unopposed to hold office without their names being placed on the ballot. This act requires published notice of the names and addresses of such committeemen and committeewomen.

ELECTION DATES.

This act removes the prohibition against elections in both February and March, and specifies that a charter city or county may hold its primary election in March if the charter so provides before this provision is signed into law.

This act also establishes an August election for 1997 in any county or municipality. This provision also has an emergency clause.

Public water district elections may be held in February, April, June, August (even years only) or November. Under current law, such elections may only be conducted in June.

ELECTION DEADLINE CHANGES.

Election deadlines are changed for the following:

Forming election boards. Section 115.019. Notification of election dates by political subdivisions. Section 115.127. Sending voter ID cards. Section 115.163. Certified list of candidates. Section 115.387. Abstract of votes delivered to Secretary of State. Section 115.507. Convening of the board of state canvassers. Section 115.511. Senatorial district committee meetings. Section 115.621. Verification of petition pages. Section 116.130. Legal notice sent to election authorities. Section 116.240.
MARGARET J. TOALSON