SB 374 - This act revises portions of Missouri's election laws, including the following:

(1) ATTORNEYS AND EMPLOYEES FOR ELECTION AUTHORITIES. SECTION 115.045. Authorizes election authorities to employ attorneys and other employees (currently only election boards can do this).

(2) MAINTAINING ESTABLISHED PARTY STATUS. SECTION 115.317. Adds new requirement for retaining established party status. An established state-wide party loses established status if it fails to have a statewide candidate or if it fails to receive more than 2% of the entire vote cast for a candidate for any statewide office. An established district or county party must meet the same requirements in the respective district or county.

(3) WRITE-IN CANDIDATES. SECTION 115.453. Prohibits independent candidates from filing as write-in candidates in the general election without withdrawing from the same office. For U.S. President, a declaration of intent as a write-in candidate must include the candidate for Vice President.

(4) PETITION FOR NEW ELECTION. SECTION 115.600-601. With regard to errors in elections, the Secretary of State presently may petition a circuit court only for a recount. This act would allow a petition for new election.

(5) PERSONS NEEDING ASSISTANCE IN VOTING BOOTH. SECTION 115.631 & 115.635. Knowingly assisting a person who does not need assistance, or coercing, requesting or suggesting to someone who does need assistance voting is changed from a Class 3 election offense (misdemeanor) to a Class 1 election offense (felony).

(6) CHANGES CERTAIN ELECTION DEADLINES AND DATES.

SECTION 115.019. Deadline to submit petition to form election board is changed from the 10th Friday to the 13th Tuesday before the general election.

SECTION 115.163. Changes deadline to send out voter ID cards from "before May 31st" to 90 days prior to the primary election (early May).

SECTION 115.387. Changes the date in which the Secretary of State transmits a certified list of candidates from the 8th to 10th Tuesday before the primary.

SECTION 115.507. Changes deadline from the 3rd to the 2nd Thursday after each election for the election authority to mail/deliver an abstract of votes to the Secretary of State.

SECTION 115.621. Changes the date in which members of senatorial district committees meet from the 3rd Saturday to the Saturday after the 3rd Tuesday after the August primary and November general elections.

SECTION 247.180. Removes the June election date for public water supply district elections, leaving the April date.

MARGARET TOALSON