SB 926 - This act modifies various provisions relating to elections.NOTICES OF ELECTION (Section 115.125)
The act allows a notice of election to be sent by email.
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 346 (2023) and CCS/HS/HCS/SS#2/SCS/SB 96 (2023) and substantially similar to HCS/HB 1214 (2023), provisions in the perfected HCS/HBs 267 & 347 (2023), and HCS/HB 783 (2023).
ABSENTEE VOTING (Sections 115.277 and 115.284)
The act allows covered voters who are eligible to vote 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.
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 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).
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 346 (2023), the perfected HCS/HBs 267 & 347 (2023), and a provision in HCS/HB 783 (2023).
ELECTION OFFENSE - ELECTIONEERING NEAR POLLING PLACES (Section 115.637)
The act expands the 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 to apply to polling places on election day as well as during the absentee voting period. 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 substantially similar to a provision in SCS/SB 346 (2023).
TAMPERING WITH AN ELECTION OFFICIAL (Section 115.638)
The act creates the offense of tampering with an election official. A person commits the offense of tampering with an election official if, with the purpose to harass or intimidate an election official in the performance of such official's official duties, such person:
· Threatens or causes harm to such election official or members of such election official's family;
· Uses force, threats, or deception against or toward such election official or members of such election official's family;
· Attempts to induce, influence, or pressure an election official or members of an election official's family to violate Missouri election law;
· Engages in conduct reasonably calculated to harass or alarm such election official or such election official's family, including stalking;
· Disseminates through any means, including by posting on the internet, the personal information of an election official or any member of an election official's family.
The offense of tampering with an election official shall be a class one election offense, punished by imprisonment of not more than five years or by fine of not less than two thousand five hundred dollars but not more than ten thousand dollars or by both such imprisonment and fine. If a violation of this provision results in death or bodily injury to an election official or a member of the official's family, the offense shall be a class B felony.
This provision is substantially similar to a provision in SCS/SB 346 (2023).
This act is effective January 1, 2025.
SCOTT SVAGERA