The Secretary of State shall print and make available a sufficient quantity of absentee ballots, ballot envelopes, and mailing envelopes for such voters.

Absent uniformed services and overseas voters are excused from being required to deliver an affidavit sworn to before the election official receiving the ballot, notary public, or another authorized to administer oaths with the absentee ballot.

Election authorities are barred from refusing valid marked absentee ballots submitted by absent uniformed services and overseas voters solely on the basis of restrictions on envelope type.

The Secretary of State in coordination with the local election jurisdictions shall develop a free access system by which an absent uniformed services and overseas voter may determine whether his or her ballot has been received.

This act removes the requirement that voters must make a statement by federal postcard, letter, or on a form prepared by the local election authority to qualify for a special write-in absentee ballot due to serving in the military or isolation. The special write-in absentee ballot shall be used in place of the Federal write-in absentee ballot in general, special, and primary elections for federal office.

This act establishes a system for advance voting in elections in which presidential and vice presidential electors, United States Senator, and statewide elected officials are on the ballot. The advance voting period shall begin on the second Saturday before the election and end on the Wednesday before the election. Absentee ballots shall be used during the advance voting period.

Costs associated with advance voting shall be reimbursed from the general revenue unless there is no appropriation of state funds.

The 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 a document issued by the United States or the state of Missouri containing the name of the voter which substantially conforms to the most recent signature in the individual’s voter registration records, a photograph, and an expiration date or if expired, the expiration is after the date of the most recent general election.

Those appearing without identification who are unable to obtain one because of a physical or mental disability, an inability to pay for a document necessary to obtain the required identification, a religious belief against forms of identification or the voter was born before January 1, 1941, shall be allowed to vote a provisional ballot provided the election authority can verify the identity of the individual by comparing the individual’s signature to the signature on file with the election authority.

All voters whose identity cannot be established are allowed to cast a provisional ballot which shall not be counted unless the voter returns and provides proper identification.

All costs incurred by the election authority associated with implementing the new identification requirements shall be reimbursed from the general revenue upon appropriation.

The election authority shall provide advance notice of the identification requirements to be included in the election authorities elections notices.

The state shall provide at least one form of identification required to vote at not cost to the voter.

The act requires that provisional ballots be available for all elections except during the advance voting period and absentee voting.

This act is contingent on the passage of a constitutional amendment establishing advance voting, photo identification, and voter requirements based on whether one appears to vote in person or by absentee.

This act is similar to SB 1014 (2006), SB 859 (2006), SB 37 (2007), SB 1251 (2008), SB 523 (2009), SB 21 (2009), SB 651 (2010), SB 845 (2010), and HB 1524 (2010).

CHRIS HOGERTY