FIRST REGULAR SESSION

SENATE BILL NO. 476

91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY


INTRODUCED BY SENATORS YECKEL, KINDER, BENTLEY, SINGLETON, SCOTT, RUSSELL,

SIMS, CAUTHORN, GROSS, DePASCO, CHILDERS, FOSTER, KENNEY, LOUDON,

STEELMAN, WESTFALL, GOODE, STOLL, KLARICH, BLAND AND CARTER.



Read 1st time February 13, 2001, and 1,000 copies ordered printed.



TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.

1893S.01I


AN ACT

To repeal sections 28.160, 115.013, 115.027, 115.081, 115.083, 115.087, 115.089, 115.097, 115.162, 115.225, 115.233, 115.237, 115.277, 115.283, 115.291, 115.417, 115.419, 115.429, 115.433, 115.439, 115.453, 115.493 and 115.637, RSMo 2000, relating to elections, and to enact in lieu thereof thirty-four new sections relating to the same subject.


Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:

Section A.  Sections 28.160, 115.013, 115.027, 115.081, 115.083, 115.087, 115.089, 115.097, 115.162, 115.225, 115.233, 115.237, 115.277, 115.283, 115.291, 115.417, 115.419, 115.429, 115.433, 115.439, 115.453, 115.493 and 115.637, RSMo 2000, are repealed and thirty-four new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 28.160, 71.005, 115.013, 115.027, 115.062, 115.074, 115.081, 115.087, 115.089, 115.097, 115.100, 115.102, 115.126, 115.162, 115.225, 115.233, 115.237, 115.277, 115.283, 115.291, 115.417, 115.419, 115.420, 115.429, 115.433, 115.439, 115.450, 115.453, 115.493, 115.637, 115.645, 115.648, 115.801 and 115.825, to read as follows:

28.160.  1.  The state shall be entitled to fees for services to be rendered by the secretary of state as follows:

For issuing commission to notary public $15.00

For countersigning and sealing certificates of

official character 10.00

For all other certificates 5.00

For copying archive and state library records,

papers or documents, for each page 8 1/2 x 14

inches and smaller, not more than .10

For duplicating microfilm, for each roll 15.00

For copying all other records, papers or documents,

for each page 8 1/2 x 14 inches and

smaller, not more than[.] .10

For certifying copies of records and papers or

documents 5.00

For causing service of process to be made 10.00

For electronic telephone transmittal, per page 2.00

2.  There is hereby established the "Secretary of State's Technology Trust Fund Account" which shall be administered by the state treasurer.  All yield, interest, income, increment, or gain received from time deposit of moneys in the state treasury to the credit of the secretary of state's technology trust fund account shall be credited by the state treasurer to the account.  The provisions of section 33.080, RSMo, to the contrary notwithstanding, moneys in the fund shall not be transferred and placed to the credit of general revenue until the amount in the fund at the end of a biennium exceeds five million dollars.  In any such biennium the amount in the fund in excess of five million dollars shall be transferred to general revenue.

3.  The secretary of state may collect an additional fee of ten dollars for the issuance of new and renewal notary commissions which shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the secretary of state's technology trust fund account.

4.  The secretary of state may ask the general assembly to appropriate funds from the technology trust fund for the purposes of establishing, procuring, developing, modernizing and maintaining:

(1)  An electronic data processing system and programs capable of maintaining a centralized database of all registered voters in the state;

(2)  Library services offered to the citizens of this state;

(3)  Administrative rules services, equipment and functions;

(4)  Services, equipment and functions relating to securities;

(5)  Services, equipment and functions relating to corporations and business organizations;

(6)  Services, equipment and functions relating to the Uniform Commercial Code;

(7)  Services, equipment and functions relating to archives; [and]

(8)  Services, equipment and functions relating to record services; and

(9)  Services, equipment and functions relating to elections.

71.005.  No person shall be a candidate for municipal office unless such person complies with the provisions of section 115.346, RSMo, regarding payment of municipal taxes or user fees.

115.013.  As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly implies otherwise, the following terms mean:

(1)  "Automatic tabulating equipment", the apparatus necessary to examine and automatically count votes, and the data processing machines which are used for counting votes and tabulating results;

(2)  "Ballot", the ballot card [or], paper ballot or ballot designed for use with an electronic voting system on which each voter may cast all votes to which he or she is entitled at an election;

(3)  "Ballot card", a ballot which is voted by making a punch or sensor mark which can be tabulated by automatic tabulating equipment;

(4)  "Ballot label", the card, paper, booklet, page or other material containing the names of all offices and candidates and statements of all questions to be voted on;

(5)  "Counting location", a location selected by the election authority for the automatic processing or counting, or both, of ballots;

(6)  "County", any one of the several counties of this state or the city of St. Louis;

(7)  "Disqualified", a determination made by a court of competent jurisdiction, the Missouri ethics commission, an election authority or any other body authorized by law to make such a determination that a candidate is ineligible to hold office or not entitled to be voted on for office;

(8)  "District", an area within the state or within a political subdivision of the state from which a person is elected to represent the area on a policy-making body with representatives of other areas in the state or political subdivision;

(9)  "Electronic voting system", a system of casting votes by use of marking devices, and counting votes by use of automatic tabulating or data processing equipment, and includes computerized voting systems;

(10)  "Established political party" for the state, a political party which, at either of the last two general elections, polled for its candidate for any statewide office, more than two percent of the entire vote cast for the office.  "Established political party" for any district or political subdivision shall mean a political party which polled more than two percent of the entire vote cast at either of the last two elections in which the district or political subdivision voted as a unit for the election of officers or representatives to serve its area;

(11)  "Federal office", the office of presidential elector, United States senator, or representative in Congress;

(12)  "Independent", a candidate who is not a candidate of any political party and who is running for an office for which party candidates may run;

(13)  "Major political party", the political party whose candidates received the highest or second highest number of votes at the last general election;

(14)  "Marking device", either an apparatus in which ballots are inserted and voted by use of a punch apparatus, or any approved device for marking paper ballots with ink or other substance which will enable the votes to be counted by automatic tabulating equipment;

(15)  "New party", any political group which has filed a valid petition and is entitled to place its list of candidates on the ballot at the next general or special election;

(16)  "Nonpartisan", a candidate who is not a candidate of any political party and who is running for an office for which party candidates may not run;

(17)  "Political party", any established political party and any new party;

(18)  "Political subdivision", a county, city, town, village, or township of a township organization county;

(19)  "Polling place", the voting place designated for all voters residing in one or more precincts for any election;

(20)  "Precincts", the geographical areas into which the election authority divides its jurisdiction for the purpose of conducting elections;

(21)  "Public office", any office established by constitution, statute or charter and any employment under the United States, the state of Missouri, or any political subdivision or special district, but does not include any office in the reserve forces or the national guard or the office of notary public;

(22)  "Question", any measure on the ballot which can be voted "YES" or "NO";

(23)  "Relative within the second degree by consanguinity or affinity", a spouse, each grandparent, parent, brother, sister, niece, nephew, aunt, uncle, child and grandchild of a person;

(24)  "Special district", any school district, water district, fire protection district, hospital district, health center, nursing district, or other districts with taxing authority, or other district formed pursuant to the laws of Missouri to provide limited, specific services;

(25)  "Special election", elections called by any school district, water district, fire protection district, or other district formed pursuant to the laws of Missouri to provide limited, specific services; and

(26)  "Voting district", the one or more precincts within which all voters vote at a single polling place for any election.

115.027.  1.  Each board of election commissioners shall be composed of four members, appointed by the governor from the names submitted by each major political party, with the advice and consent of the senate.  The state committee of each major political party shall submit a list of no more than four names to the governor.  The state committee of such party may defer to the local county committee in selecting names to submit to the governor.  Two commissioners on each board shall be members of one major political party, and two commissioners on each board shall be members of the other major political party.  In no case shall more than two commissioners on a board be members of the same political party.  When appointing commissioners, the governor shall designate one commissioner on each board to be chairman of the board and one commissioner on each board to be secretary of the board.  The chairman and secretary of a board shall not be members of the same political party.

2.  In jurisdictions with boards of election commissioners as the election authority, the governor may appoint to such board one representative from each established political party.  Such representative shall not be a member of the board for purposes of subsection 1 of this section.  The state chairperson of each established political party shall submit a list of no more than four names from which the governor shall select the representative from that party.  Such representative shall not have voting status, and may not be compensated, but shall be allowed to participate in discussions and be informed of any meeting of such board.

115.062.  The state of Missouri shall, as soon as practicable, pay its current obligations to election authorities pursuant to the proportional cost provisions of sections 115.065 and 115.157, for transactions submitted on or after August 28, 2001.

115.074.  1.  Subject to appropriation from general revenue funds, the secretary of state shall administer a grant program in an amount not less than five million dollars annually for the purposes of providing funds to election authorities to upgrade or improve the voting process or equipment.  Such funding shall be in the form of matching grants.  The secretary of state may promulgate rules to effectuate the provisions of this section.

2.  Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, RSMo, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536, RSMo, and, if applicable, section 536.028, RSMo.  This section and chapter 536, RSMo, are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo, to review, to delay the effective date or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2001, shall be invalid and void.

115.081.  1.  Each election authority shall appoint at least four election judges for each polling place within its jurisdiction.  If the expected voter turnout at a polling place indicates that four judges may be insufficient, the election authority may appoint an even number of additional judges for the polling place.  [One-half] At least two of the judges at each polling place shall be members of one major political party, and [one-half] at least two of the judges at each polling place shall be members of the other major political party; provided that the number of election judges appointed from each major political party shall be equal.

2.  The election authority shall designate two of the judges appointed for each polling place, one from each major political party, as supervisory judges.  Supervisory judges shall be responsible for the return of election supplies from the polling place to the election authority and shall have any additional duties prescribed by the election authority.

3.  Election judges may be employed to serve for the first half or last half of any election day.  Such judges shall be paid one-half the regular rate of pay.  If part-time judges are employed, the election authority shall employ such judges and shall see that a sufficient number for each period are present at all times so as to have the proper total number of judges present at each polling place throughout each election day.  The election authority shall require that at each polling place at least one election judge from each political party serve a full day and that at all times during the day there be an equal number of election judges from each political party.

4.  An election authority may appoint additional election judges representing other established political parties and additional election judges who do not claim a political affiliation.  Any question which requires a decision by the majority of judges shall only be made by the judges from the major political parties.

[115.083.  Any election authority may appoint an even number of additional judges for use as needed on election day.  One-half of such judges shall be members of one major political party, and one-half of such judges shall be members of the other major political party.]

115.087.  1.  In each county which does not have a board of election commissioners, the election judges shall be selected from lists provided by the county committee of each major political party.  Not later than December tenth in each year in which county committeemen are elected, the county committee of each major political party shall submit to the county clerk a list of persons qualified to serve as election judges in double the number required to hold a general election in the county.  Not later than February tenth in each year immediately following the year in which county committeemen are elected, each county clerk shall select and appoint the number of judges required to hold a general election in his county, taking one-half of the judges from each of the lists.  If a county committee fails to present the prescribed number of names of qualified persons by the time prescribed, the county clerk may select and appoint the number of judges provided by law for the county committee's party.  If the county clerk deems any person on a list to be unqualified, he may request the county committee which submitted the list to furnish another name.  The election judges shall be appointed for a term ending on February tenth in the year immediately following the year in which county committeemen are next elected and until their successors are appointed and qualified.

2.  The state chairperson of each established political party may, in jurisdictions where the county clerk is the election authority, submit a list of persons qualified to serve as election judges to the county clerk.  The county clerk may select and appoint additional judges from such list pursuant to section 115.081.

3.  County clerks may compile a list of persons who claim no political affiliation and who volunteer to be election judges.  A county clerk may select and appoint additional judges from such list pursuant to section 115.081.

115.089.  Each board of election commissioners shall have authority to appoint election judges for individual elections, or for a term coincident with the term of the board and until the judges' successors are appointed and qualified.  The board may ask the county committee of each major political party and the state chairperson of any established party to submit a list of persons qualified to serve as election judges and may select and appoint judges from the lists.  The board may compile a list of persons who claim no political affiliation and who volunteer to be election judges and may select and appoint judges from the list.

115.097.  No election judge shall be absent from the polls for more than one hour during the hours the polls are open on election day.  No election judge shall be absent from the polls before 9:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m. on election day.  No more than one judge from the same major political party shall be absent from the polls at the same time on election day.

115.100.  1.  An employer shall not terminate, discipline, threaten or take adverse actions against an employee based on the employee's service as an election judge.

2.  An employee who is appointed to serve as an election judge may, on election day, be absent from his or her employment for the period of time that the election authority requires the employee to serve as election judge.  Employees must notify employers at least seven days prior to an election that they will be absent from work on election day due to service as an election judge.

3.  An employee discharged in violation of this section may bring a civil action against the employer within ninety days of discharge for recovery of lost wages and other damages caused by the violation and for an order directing reinstatement of the employee.  If the employee prevails, the employee shall be entitled to receive reasonable attorney's fees and costs.

115.102.  1.  Subject to appropriation from general revenue funds, the secretary of state shall administer a grant program for the purpose of increasing the compensation of election judges.  Such funding shall be in the form of matching grants, and shall be made available to election authorities contingent upon the election authority increasing the compensation of election judges to an amount not less than seven dollars per hour.  The secretary of state may promulgate rules to effectuate the provisions of this section.

2.  Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, RSMo, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536, RSMo, and, if applicable, section 536.028, RSMo.  This section and chapter 536, RSMo, are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo, to review, to delay the effective date or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2001, shall be invalid and void.

115.126.  1.  Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, election authorities shall establish an advance voting period when eligible registered voters may vote before any general and primary election in even-numbered years at the office of the election authority or another polling place designated by and under the control of the election authority.  The permissible advance voting period shall begin fourteen days prior to such election and end at 5:00 p.m. on the Friday before the day of such election.

2.  Election authorities shall, pursuant to subsection 1 of this section, establish the hours, dates and locations for advance voting and shall post this information at the election authority's office and in such other locations as the election authority may select.  Election authorities may conduct advance voting in lieu of absentee voting conducted pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection 1 of section 115.277.

3.  Except as provided in this section, advance voting procedures shall be conducted pursuant to sections 115.407 to 115.445.

4.  Before the precinct registers are delivered to the polling places for an election, the election authority shall record in the precinct registers the names of all voters who have submitted an advance voting ballot.  The election judge shall not allow any person who has voted an advance voting ballot in the election to vote at the polls on election day.  If it is determined that any voter submitted an advance voting ballot and voted at the polls on election day:

(1)  That the person, having voted more than once, is guilty of a class one election offense pursuant to subdivision (2) of section 115.631;

(2)  The election authority shall certify that fact and the name of the voter to the verification board.  Such certificate shall be included with the abstracts drawn by the verification board.

115.162.  1.  A voter registration application shall be provided by the secretary of state in all offices of the state that provide public assistance, all offices that provide state-funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to persons with disabilities, and other offices as directed by the governor.  In addition all armed forces recruitment offices shall be considered a voter registration agency.

2.  At each voter registration agency, the following services shall be made available:

(1)  Assistance to applicants in completing voter registration application forms, unless the applicant refuses such assistance;

(2)  Acceptance of completed voter registration application forms for transmittal to the election authority located in the same county or any city not within a county, or if there is more than one election authority within the county, to the election authority nearest to the office of the agency.  The election authority receiving the application forms shall review the applications and forward any applications pertaining to a different election authority to that election authority[.  Forms shall be transmitted as soon as possible and according to dates established by the state election authority];

(3)  Voter registration sites shall transmit voter registration application forms to the appropriate election authority within five business days of completion by the applicant;

(4)  If a voter registration agency provides services to a person with a disability at the person's home, the agency shall provide the services provided in this section at the person's home.

3.  An applicant declining to register in any agency shall be noted in a declination section incorporated into the voter registration form used by the agency.  No information relating to a declination to register to vote in connection with an application made at a voter registration agency may be used for any purpose other than voter registration.

4.  Subject to the approval of the secretary of state, the voter registration agency shall adopt rules and regulations pertaining to the format of a voter registration application to be used by that agency.

115.225.  1.  Before use by election authorities in this state, the secretary of state shall approve the marking devices and the automatic tabulating equipment used in electronic voting systems and may promulgate rules and regulations to implement the intent of sections 115.225 to 115.235.

2.  No electronic voting system shall be approved unless it:

(1)  Permits voting in absolute secrecy;

(2)  Permits each voter to vote for as many candidates for each office as he is lawfully entitled to vote for;

(3)  Permits each voter to vote for or against as many questions as he is lawfully entitled to vote on, and no more;

(4)  Provides facilities for each voter to cast as many write-in votes for each office as he is lawfully entitled to cast;

(5)  Permits each voter at a general election to vote for all candidates of one party by one punch or mark or to vote a split ticket, as he desires;

(6)  Permits each voter in a primary election to vote for the candidates of only one party announced by the voter in advance;

(7)  Permits each voter at a presidential election to vote by use of a single punch or mark for the candidates of one party or group of petitioners for president, vice president and their presidential electors;

(8)  Accurately counts all proper votes cast for each candidate and for and against each question;

(9)  Is set to reject all votes, except write-in votes, for any office and on any question when the number of votes exceeds the number a voter is lawfully entitled to cast;

(10)  Permits each voter, while voting, to clearly see the ballot label.

3.  [No rule or portion of a rule promulgated under the authority of this section shall become effective unless it has been promulgated pursuant to the provisions of section 536.024, RSMo.] The secretary of state shall promulgate rules and regulations to allow the use of a computerized voting system.  The procedures shall provide for the use of a computerized voting system with:

(1)  Multiple voting terminals for the input of vote selections on the ballot presented by a main computer;

(2)  A main computer to coordinate ballot presentation, vote selection, ballot image storage, and result tabulation; and

(3)  Ability to provide a paper audit trail.

Notwithstanding any provisions of this chapter to the contrary, such a system may allow for the storage of processed ballot materials in an electronic form on the main computer.

4.  Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, RSMo, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536, RSMo, and, if applicable, section 536.028, RSMo.  This section and chapter 536, RSMo, are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo, to review, to delay the effective date or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2001, shall be invalid and void.

115.233.  1.  Within five days prior to an election at which an electronic voting system is to be used, the election authority shall have the automatic tabulating equipment tested to ascertain that the equipment is in compliance with the law and that it will correctly count the votes cast for all offices and on all questions.  At least forty-eight hours prior to the test, notice of the time and place of the test shall be mailed to each independent and new party candidate and the chairman of the county committee of each established political party named on the ballot.  The test shall be observed by at least two persons designated by the election authority, one from each major political party, and shall be open to representatives of the political parties, candidates, the news media and the public.  The test shall be conducted by processing a preaudited group of ballots.  If any error is detected, the cause shall be ascertained and corrected, and an errorless count shall be made before the tabulating equipment is approved.

2.  The secretary of state may promulgate rules and regulations that specify any additional testing procedures to effectuate the provisions of this section.

3.  Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, RSMo, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536, RSMo, and, if applicable, section 536.028, RSMo.  This section and chapter 536, RSMo, are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo, to review, to delay the effective date or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2001, shall be invalid and void.

115.237.  1.  Each ballot printed or designed for use with an electronic voting system for any election under the provisions of sections 115.001 to 115.641 shall contain all questions and the names of all offices and candidates certified or filed pursuant to sections 115.001 to 115.641 and no other.  As far as practicable, all questions and the names of all offices and candidates for which each voter is entitled to vote shall be printed on one page except for the ballot for political party committee persons in polling places not utilizing an electronic voting system which may be printed separately and in conformity with the requirements contained in this section.  As far as practicable, ballots containing only questions and the names of nonpartisan offices and candidates shall be printed in accordance with the provisions of this section, except that the ballot information may be listed in vertical or horizontal rows.  The names of candidates for each office shall be listed in the order in which they are filed.

2.  Each ballot shall be plain paper, through which printing or writing cannot be read, or electronically designed for use with an electronic voting system, and shall have:

(1)  Each party name printed in capital letters not less than eighteen point in size;

(2)  A circle one-half inch in diameter immediately below each party name;

(3)  The name of each office printed in capital letters not less than eight point in size;

(4)  The name of each candidate printed in capital letters not less than ten point in size;

(5)  A small square, the sides of which shall not be less than one-fourth inch in length, printed directly to the left of each candidate's name and on the same line as the candidate's name.  When write-in votes are authorized and no candidate's name is to be printed under the name of an office in a party or nonpartisan column, under the name of the office in the column shall be printed a square.  Directly to the right of the square shall be printed a horizontal line on which the voter may vote for a person whose name does not appear on the ballot.  When more than one position is to be filled for an office, and the number of candidates' names under the office in a column is less than the number of positions to be filled, the number of squares and write-in lines printed in the column shall equal the difference between the number of candidates' names and the number of positions to be filled;

(6)  The list of candidates of each party and all nonpartisan candidates placed in separate columns with a heavy vertical line between each list;

(7)  A horizontal line extending across the ballot three-eighths of an inch below the last name or write-in line under each office in such a manner that the names of all candidates and all write-in lines for the same office appear between the same horizontal lines.  If write-in votes are not authorized, the horizontal line shall extend across the ballot three-eighths of an inch below the name of the last candidate under each office;

(8)  In a separate column or beneath a heavy horizontal line under all names and write-in lines, all questions;

(9)  At least three-eighths of an inch below all other matter on the ballot, printed in ten point Gothic type, the words "Instructions to Voters" followed by directions to the voter on marking his ballot as provided in section 115.439;

(10)  Printed at the top on the face of the ballot the words "Official Ballot" followed by the date of the election and the statement "Instruction to Voters: Place an X in the square opposite the name of the person for whom you wish to vote."

3.  As nearly as practicable, each ballot shall be in substantially the following form:

OFFICIAL BALLOT DATE .....................

REPUBLICAN DEMOCRATIC THIRD PARTY INDEPENDENT

O O O O

For President For President For President For President

         and            and          and          and

  Vice President  Vice President   Vice President    Vice President

  o .....   o .....         o .....         o .....

        For          For           For           For

United States  United States    United States    United States

      Senator      Senator        Senator        Senator

         o .....   o .....            o .....        o .....

For Governor   For Governor   For Governor    For Governor

      o .....   o .....          o .....          o .....

For Lieutenant For Lieutenant   For Lieutenant   For Lieutenant

   Governor      Governor        Governor       Governor

        o .....    o .....          o .....          o .....

 For Secretary For Secretary     For Secretary    For Secretary

    of State      of State         of State        of State

   o .....    o .....          o .....          o .....

 For Treasurer   For Treasurer   For Treasurer   For Treasurer

      o .....   o .....          o .....          o .....

 For Attorney    For Attorney    For Attorney    For Attorney

   General       General        General        General

      o .....   o .....          o .....          o .....

        For         For           For           For

 United States United States   United States United States

Representative Representative  Representative   Representative

       o .....   o .....          o .....          o .....

    For State    For State       For State       For State

    Senator     Senator        Senator        Senator

      o .....   o .....          o .....          o .....

    For State     For State       For State       For State

Representative Representative    Representative   Representative

      o .....   o .....          o .....          o .....

    For Circuit   For Circuit       For Circuit     For Circuit

       Judge       Judge          Judge        Judge

      o .....   o .....          o .....        o .....

115.277.  1.  Except as provided in subsections 3, 4 and 5 of this section, any registered voter of this state may vote by absentee ballot for all candidates and issues for which such voter would be eligible to vote at the polling place if such voter expects to be prevented from going to the polls to vote on election day due to:

(1)  Absence on election day from the jurisdiction of the election authority in which such voter is registered to vote;

(2)  Incapacity or confinement due to illness or physical disability;

(3)  Religious belief or practice;

(4)  Employment as an election authority, as a member of an election authority, or by an election authority at a location other than such voter's polling place;

(5)  Incarceration, provided all qualifications for voting are retained; or

(6)  A person who is primarily responsible for the physical care of a person who is incapacitated or confined due to illness or disability.

2.  Any person in federal service, as defined in section 115.275, who is eligible to register and vote in any election in this state may vote in the election even if the person is not registered.  Each person in federal service may vote by absentee ballot or, upon submitting an affidavit that the person is qualified to vote in the election, may vote at the person's polling place.

3.  Any interstate former resident, as defined in section 115.275, may vote by absentee ballot for presidential and vice presidential electors.

4.  Any intrastate new resident, as defined in section 115.275, may vote by absentee ballot at the election for presidential and vice presidential electors, United States senator, representative in Congress, statewide elected officials and statewide questions, propositions and amendments from such resident's new jurisdiction of residence after registering to vote in such resident's new jurisdiction of residence.

5.  Any new resident, as defined in section 115.275, may vote by absentee ballot for presidential and vice presidential electors after registering to vote in such resident's new jurisdiction of residence.

115.283.  1.  Each ballot envelope shall bear a statement on which the voter shall state the voter's name, the voter's voting address, the voter's mailing address and the voter's reason for voting an absentee ballot.  On the form, the voter shall also state, under penalties of perjury that the voter is qualified to vote in the election, that the voter has not previously voted and will not vote again in the election, that the voter has personally marked the voter's ballot in secret or supervised the marking of the voter's ballot if the voter is unable to mark it, that the ballot has been placed in the ballot envelope and sealed by the voter or under the voter's supervision if the voter is unable to seal it, and that all information contained in the statement is true.  In addition, any person providing assistance to the absentee voter shall include a statement on the envelope identifying the person providing assistance under penalties of perjury.  Persons authorized to vote only for federal and statewide officers shall also state their former Missouri residence.

2.  The statement for persons voting absentee ballots who are registered voters shall be in substantially the following form:

State of Missouri

County (City) of ................................

I, .......................................... (print name), a registered voter of .......................... County (City of St. Louis, Kansas City), declare under the penalties of perjury that I expect to be prevented from going to the polls on election day due to (check one):

........... absence on election day from the jurisdiction of the election authority in which I am registered;

........... incapacity or confinement due to illness or physical disability;

........... religious belief or practice;

........... employment as an election authority or by an election authority at a location other than my polling place;

........... incarceration, although I have retained all the necessary qualifications for voting;

........... caring for a person who is incapacitated or confined due to illness or disability.

I hereby state under penalties of perjury that I am qualified to vote at this election; I have not voted and will not vote other than by this ballot at this election.  I further state that I marked the enclosed ballot in secret or that I am blind, unable to read or write English, or physically incapable of marking the ballot, and the person of my choosing indicated below marked the ballot at my direction; all of the information on this statement is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true.

................................. ...................................       

Signature of Voter Signature of Person        

Assisting Voter              

(if applicable)                

.................................. Subscribed and sworn to

.................................. before me this ...... day   

Address of Voter of .............., ..............      

.................................. .................................      

.................................. .................................  

Mailing addresses Signature of notary    

 or (if different) other officer authorized  

to administer oaths       

3.  The statement for persons voting absentee ballots pursuant to the provisions of subsection 2, 3, 4 [or], 5 or 6 of section 115.277 without being registered shall be in substantially the following form:

State of Missouri

County (City) of ..............................

I, ............................ (print name), declare under the penalties of perjury that I am a citizen of the United States and eighteen years of age or older.  I am not adjudged incapacitated by any court of law, and if I have been convicted of a felony or of a misdemeanor connected with the right of suffrage, I have had the voting disabilities resulting from such conviction removed pursuant to law.  I hereby state under penalties of perjury that I am qualified to vote at this election.

(1)  I am a resident of the state of Missouri and (check one):

........... am a member of the U.S. armed forces in active service;

........... am an active member of the U.S. merchant marine;

........... am a civilian employee of the U.S. government working outside the United States;

........... am an active member of a religious or welfare organization assisting servicemen;

........... have been honorably discharged or terminated my service in one of the groups mentioned above within sixty days of this election;

........... am a spouse or dependent of one of the above;

........... am a registered voter in .............. County and moved from that county to ............ County, Missouri, after the last day to register to vote in this election.

OR (check if applicable)

(2)  ..................... I am an interstate former resident of Missouri and authorized to vote for presidential and vice presidential electors.  I further state under penalties of perjury that I have not voted and will not vote other than by this ballot at this election; I marked the enclosed ballot in secret or am blind, unable to read or write English, or physically incapable of marking the ballot, and the person of my choosing indicated below marked the ballot at my direction; all of the information on this statement is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true.

.................................. Subscribed to and sworn     

Signature of Voter before me this ...... day       

of ............, ................          

..................................

.................................. ..................................        

Address of Voter Signature of notary or       

other officer authorized     

to administer oaths          

..................................

..................................

Mailing Address

  (if different) ..................................          

.................................. ..................................          

Signature of Person Address of Last Missouri  

Assisting Voter Residence                       

(if applicable)

4.  The statement for persons voting absentee ballots who are entitled to vote at the election pursuant to the provisions of subsection 2 of section 115.137 shall be in substantially the following form:

State of Missouri

County (City) of .....................

I, ....................................... (print name), declare under the penalties of perjury that I expect to be prevented from going to the polls on election day due to (check one):

.......... absence on election day from the jurisdiction of the election authority in which I am directed to vote;

.......... incapacity or confinement due to illness or physical disability;

.......... religious belief or practice;

.......... employment as an election authority or by an election authority at a location other than my polling place;

.......... incarceration, although I have retained all the necessary qualifications of voting;

.......... caring for a person who is incapacitated or confined due to illness or disability.

I hereby state under penalties of perjury that I own property in the ...................... district and am qualified to vote at this election; I have not voted and will not vote other than by this ballot at this election.  I further state that I marked the enclosed ballot in secret or that I am blind, unable to read and write English, or physically incapable of marking the ballot, and the person of my choosing indicated below marked the ballot at my direction; all of the information on this statement is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true.

.................................. Subscribed and sworn to    

Signature of Voter before me this ..........          

day of ........, .............        

..................................

.................................. ...................................       

Address Signature of notary or        

other officer authorized      

to administer oaths           

..................................

Signature of Person

Assisting Voter

(if applicable)

5.  The statement for persons providing assistance to absentee voters shall be in substantially the following form:

The voter needed assistance in marking the ballot and signing above, because of blindness, other physical disability, or inability to read or to read English.  I marked the ballot enclosed in this envelope at the voter's direction, when I was alone with the voter, and I had no other communication with the voter as to how he or she was to vote.  The voter swore or affirmed the voter affidavit above and I then signed the voter's name and completed the other voter information above.  Signed under the penalties of perjury.

Reason why voter needed assistance: .............................................................

ASSISTING PERSON SIGN HERE

1.  ...................... (signature of assisting person)

2.  ...................... (assisting person's name printed)

3.  ...................... (assisting person's residence)

4.  ...................... (assisting person's home city or town).

6.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, any resident of the state of Missouri who resides outside the boundaries of the United States or who is on active duty with the armed forces of the United States or members of their immediate family living with them or persons who have declared themselves to be permanently disabled pursuant to section 115.284, otherwise entitled to vote, shall not be required to obtain a notary seal or signature on his or her absentee ballot.

7.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or section 115.291 to the contrary, the subscription, signature and seal of a notary or other officer authorized to administer oaths shall not be required on any ballot, ballot envelope, or statement required by this section if the reason for the voter voting absentee is due to [illness or physical disability] the reasons established pursuant to subdivisions (2) and (6) of subsection 1 of section 115.277.

115.291.  1.  Upon receiving an absentee ballot, the voter shall mark his ballot in secret, place the ballot in the ballot envelope, seal the envelope and fill out the statement on the ballot envelope.  The affidavit of each person voting an absentee ballot shall be subscribed and sworn to before the election official receiving the ballot, a notary public or other officer authorized by law to administer oaths, unless the voter is voting absentee due to incapacity or confinement due to the provisions of section 115.284, illness or physical disability.  If the voter is blind, unable to read or write the English language, or physically incapable of voting his ballot, he may be assisted by a person of his own choosing.  Any person assisting a voter who is not entitled to such assistance, and any person who assists a voter and in any manner coerces or initiates a request or a suggestion that the voter vote for or against or refrain from voting on any question, ticket or candidate, shall be guilty of a class one election offense.  If, upon counting, challenge or election contest, it is ascertained that any absentee ballot was voted with unlawful assistance, the ballot shall be rejected.

2.  Each absentee ballot shall be returned to the election authority in the ballot envelope and shall only be returned by the voter in person, by mail or registered carrier or by a team of deputy election authorities; except that persons in federal service, when sent from a location determined by the secretary of state to be inaccessible on election day, shall be allowed to return their absentee ballots cast by use of facsimile transmission, provided that they are accompanied by notarization.

3.  In cases of an emergency declared by the President of the United States or the governor of this state where the conduct of an election may be affected, the secretary of state may provide for the delivery and return of absentee ballots by use of a facsimile transmission device or system.  Any rule promulgated pursuant to this subsection shall apply to a class or classes of voters as provided for by the secretary of state.

115.417.  1.  Before the time fixed by law for the opening of the polls, the election authority shall deliver to each polling place a sufficient number of voter instruction cards which include the following information:

(1)  If paper ballots or an electronic voting system is used, the instructions shall inform the voter on how to obtain a ballot for voting, how to vote and prepare the ballot for deposit in the ballot box and how to obtain a new ballot to replace one accidentally spoiled;

(2)  If voting machines are used, the instructions shall inform the voter how to operate the machine in such a manner that he may vote as he wishes.

2.  The election authority at each polling place shall post in a conspicuous place voting instructions on a poster no smaller than twenty-four inches by thirty inches.  Such instructions shall also inform the voter that the voting equipment can be demonstrated upon request of the voter.

3.  If marking devices or voting machines are used, the election authority shall also provide to each polling place a model of a marking device or portion of the face of a voting machine.  If requested to do so by a voter, the election judges shall give instructions on operation of the marking device or voting machine by use of the model.

4.  The secretary of state may develop multi-lingual voting instructions to be made available to election authorities.

115.419.  Before the time fixed by law for the opening of the polls, the election authority shall deliver to each polling place a sufficient number of sample ballots, ballot cards or ballot labels which shall be a different color but otherwise exact copies of the official ballot.  The samples shall be printed in the form of a diagram, showing the form of the ballot or the front of the marking device or voting machine as it will appear on election day.  The secretary of state may develop multi-lingual sample ballots to be made available to election authorities.

115.420.  1.  An election authority operating a voting system that uses ballot cards shall not use a butterfly ballot unless the secretary of state provides written approval to the election authority for the use of a butterfly ballot in the particular election.

2.  For purposes of this section, "butterfly ballot" means a ballot where two ballot pages are used side by side and where voters must vote on candidates or issues on both sides of the pages.

3.  The secretary of state may approve the use of a butterfly ballot in a particular election when a large number of candidates and issues are to be decided, no alternative ballot is reasonable under the circumstances, and the election authority submits to the secretary of state a written explanation of the need for using a butterfly ballot.

115.429.  1.  The election judges shall not permit any person to vote unless satisfied that such person is the person whose name appears on the precinct register.

2.  The identity or qualifications of any person offering to vote may be challenged by any election authority personnel, any registered voter, or any duly authorized challenger at the polling place.  No person whose right to vote is challenged shall receive a ballot until his identity and qualifications have been established.

3.  Any question of doubt concerning the identity or qualifications of a voter shall be decided by a majority of the judges from the major political parties.  If [the] such election judges decide not to permit a person to vote because of doubt as to his identity or qualifications, the person may apply to the election authority or to the circuit court as provided in sections 115.193 and 115.223.

4.  If the election judges cannot reach a decision on the identity or qualifications of any person, the question shall be decided by the election authority, subject to appeal to the circuit court as provided in section 115.223.

5.  The election judges or the election authority may require any person whose right to vote is challenged to execute an affidavit affirming his qualifications.  The election authority shall furnish to the election judges a sufficient number of blank affidavits of qualification, and the election judges shall enter any appropriate information or comments under the title "Remarks" which shall appear at the bottom of the affidavit.  All executed affidavits of qualification shall be returned to the election authority with the other election supplies.  Any person who makes a false affidavit of qualification shall be guilty of a class one election offense.

115.433.  After the voter's identification certificate has been initialed, two judges of different political parties, or one judge from a political party and one judge with no political affiliation, shall, where paper ballots or ballot cards are used, initial the voter's ballot or ballot card.

115.439.  1.  If paper ballots or ballot cards are used, the voter shall, immediately upon receiving his ballot, go alone to a voting booth and vote his ballot in the following manner:

(1)  If the voter desires to vote a straight party ticket, he may place a cross (X) mark in the circle directly below the party name at the head of the column, or he may place cross (X) marks in the squares directly to the left of the names of candidates on one party ticket;

(2)  If the voter desires to vote a split party ticket, he may place a cross (X) mark in the circle directly below one party name at the head of the column and cross (X) marks in the squares directly to the left of the names of candidates on other party tickets, or he may place cross (X) marks in the squares directly to the left of the names of candidates on different party tickets;

(3)  If the voter desires to vote for a person whose name does not appear on the ballot, he may cross out a name which appears on the ballot for the office and write the name of the person for whom he wishes to vote above or below the crossed-out name and place a cross (X) mark in the square directly to the left of the crossed-out name.  If a write-in line appears on the ballot, he may write the name of the person for whom he wishes to vote on the line and place a cross (X) mark in the square directly to the left of the name;

(4)  If the ballot does not contain any party designations, the voter shall place a cross (X) mark in the squares directly to the left of the names of the candidates for whom he desires to vote;

(5)  If the ballot is one which contains no candidates, the voter shall place a cross (X) mark in the square directly to the left of each "yes" or "no" he desires to vote.  No voter shall vote for the same person more than once for the same office at the same election.

2.  For purposes of this section, a punch or sensor mark or any other mark clearly indicating that the voter intends to mark that particular square shall be equivalent to a cross (X) mark.

3.  If voting machines are used, the voter shall, immediately upon direction by the judges, go alone to a voting machine, close the curtain and vote in substantially the same manner provided in subsection 1 of this section.  Rather than placing cross (X) marks on the ballot, however, the voter shall cause the designations to appear on the face of the voting machine, cast any write-in votes and register his votes as directed in the instructions for use of the machine.

4.  If the voter accidentally spoils his ballot or ballot card or makes an error, he may return it to an election judge and receive another.  The election judge shall mark "SPOILED" across the ballot or ballot card and place it in an envelope marked "SPOILED BALLOTS".  After another ballot has been prepared in the manner provided in section 115.433, the ballot shall be given to the voter for voting.

5.  The secretary of state may promulgate rules and regulations to allow for the use of a sticker or other item containing a write-in candidate's name in lieu of a handwritten name.  If any sticker or other item containing a write-in candidate's name, in lieu of a handwritten name, is present on the ballot, such sticker or item shall contain a cross (X) mark, or other mark as described in subsection 2 of this section, in the square directly left of the candidate's name and the office for which the candidate is a write-in candidate.  A write-in vote that does not meet the requirements of this subsection which appears on a ballot shall not be counted under sections 115.447 to 115.525.  In those jurisdictions using an electronic voting system which utilizes mark sense or optical scan technology, such system shall be programmed to identify and separate those ballots which contain an office in which write-in candidates are eligible to receive votes, and which contain less votes than a voter is entitled to cast.  In addition, such sticker shall be considered "printed matter" as defined in subsection 8 of section 130.031, RSMo, and as such shall contain the designation required by subsection 8 of section 130.031, RSMo.

115.450.  1.  The secretary of state shall promulgate rules that specify uniform counting standards that all election authorities shall use when counting ballots of all types, including the hand counting of any ballots.

2.  Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, RSMo, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536, RSMo, and, if applicable, section 536.028, RSMo.  This section and chapter 536, RSMo, are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo, to review, to delay the effective date or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2001, shall be invalid and void.

115.453.  Election judges shall count votes for all candidates in the following manner:

(1)  If a cross (X) mark appears in the circle immediately below a party name at the head of a column, each candidate of the party shall be counted as voted for.  If a cross (X) mark appears in the circle immediately below more than one party name, no candidate shall be counted as voted for, except a candidate before whose name a cross (X) mark appears in the square preceding the name and a cross (X) mark does not appear in the square preceding the name of any candidate for the same office in another column.  If a cross (X) mark appears in the circle immediately below a party name at the head of a column, and a cross (X) mark appears in the square next to the name of any candidate in another column, each candidate of the party whose circle is marked shall be counted as voted for, except where a cross (X) mark appears in the square preceding the name of any candidate in another column.  Except as provided in this subdivision and subdivision (2) of this section, each candidate with a cross (X) mark in the square preceding his or her name shall be counted as voted for.

(2)  If no cross (X) mark appears in the circle immediately below any party name, but a cross (X) mark does appear in the square next to any candidate's name, the name of each candidate next to which a cross (X) mark appears shall be counted as voted for, and no other name shall be counted as voted for.  If cross (X) marks appear next to the names of more candidates for an office than are entitled to fill the office, no candidate for the office shall be counted as voted for.  If more than one candidate is to be nominated or elected to an office, and any voter has voted for the same candidate more than once for the same office at the same election, no votes cast by the voter for the candidate shall be counted.

(3)  No vote shall be counted for any candidate that is not marked substantially in accordance with the provisions of this section.  [The judges shall count votes marked substantially in accordance with this section when the intent of the voter seems clear.  No ballot containing any proper votes shall be rejected for containing fewer marks than are authorized by law.]

(4)  Write-in votes shall be counted only for candidates for election to office who have filed a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for election to office with the proper election authority, who shall then notify the proper filing officer of the write-in candidate prior to 5:00 p.m. on the second Friday immediately preceding the election day; except that, write-in votes shall be counted only for candidates for election to state or federal office who have filed a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for election to state or federal office with the secretary of state pursuant to section 115.353 prior to 5:00 p.m. on the second Friday immediately preceding the election day.  No person who filed as a party or independent candidate for nomination or election to an office may, without withdrawing as provided by law, file as a write-in candidate for election to the same office for the same term.  No candidate who files for nomination to an office and is not nominated at a primary election may file a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for the same office at the general election.  When declarations are properly filed with the secretary of state, the secretary of state shall promptly transmit copies of all such declarations to the proper election authorities for further action pursuant to this section.  The election authority shall furnish a list to the election judges and counting teams prior to election day of all write-in candidates who have filed such declaration.  This subdivision shall not apply to elections wherein candidates are being elected to an office for which no candidate has filed.

(5)  Write-in votes shall be cast and counted for a candidate without party designation.  Write-in votes for a person cast with a party designation shall not be counted.  Except for candidates for political party committees, no candidate shall be elected as a write-in candidate unless such candidate receives a separate plurality of the votes without party designation regardless of whether or not the total write-in votes for such candidate under all party and without party designations totals a majority of the votes cast.

(6)  When submitted to the election authority, each declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for the office of United States president shall include the name of a candidate for vice president and the name of nominees for presidential elector equal to the number to which the state is entitled.  At least one qualified resident of each congressional district shall be nominated as presidential elector.  Each such declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate shall be accompanied by a declaration of candidacy for each presidential elector in substantially the form set forth in subsection 3 of section 115.399.  Each declaration of candidacy for the office of presidential elector shall be subscribed and sworn to by the candidate before the election official receiving the declaration of intent to be a write-in, notary public or other officer authorized by law to administer oaths.

115.493.  The election authority shall keep all voted ballots, ballot cards, processed ballot materials in electronic form and write-in forms, and all applications, statements, certificates, affidavits and computer programs relating to each election for twelve months after the date of the election.  During the time that voted ballots, ballot cards, processed ballot materials in electronic form and write-in forms are kept by the election authority, it shall not open or inspect them or allow anyone else to do so, except upon order of a legislative body trying an election contest, a court or a grand jury.  After twelve months, the ballots, ballot cards, processed ballot materials in electronic form, write-in forms, applications, statements, certificates, affidavits and computer programs relating to each election may be destroyed.  If an election contest, grand jury investigation or civil or criminal case relating to the election is pending at the time, however, the materials shall not be destroyed until the contest, investigation or case is finally determined.

115.637.  The following offenses, and any others specifically so described by law, shall be class four election offenses and are deemed misdemeanors not connected with the exercise of the right of suffrage.  Conviction for any of these offenses shall be punished by imprisonment of not more than one year or by a fine of not more than two thousand five hundred dollars or by both such imprisonment and fine:

(1)  Stealing or willfully concealing, defacing, mutilating, or destroying any sample ballots that may be furnished by an organization or individual at or near any voting place on election day, except that this subdivision shall not be construed so as to interfere with the right of an individual voter to erase or cause to be erased on a sample ballot the name of any candidate and substituting the name of the person for whom he intends to vote; or to dispose of the received sample ballot;

(2)  Printing, circulating, or causing to be printed or circulated, any false and fraudulent sample ballots which appear on their face to be designed as a fraud upon voters;

(3)  Purposefully giving a printed or written sample ballot to any qualified voter which is intended to mislead the voter;

(4)  On the part of any candidate for election to any office of honor, trust, or profit, offering or promising to discharge the duties of such office for a less sum than the salary, fees, or emoluments as fixed by law or promising to pay back or donate to any public or private interest any portion of such salary, fees, or emolument as an inducement to voters;

(5)  On the part of any canvasser appointed to canvass any registration list, willfully failing to appear, refusing to continue, or abandoning such canvass or willfully neglecting to perform his duties in making such canvass or willfully neglecting any duties lawfully assigned to him;

(6)  On the part of any employer, making, enforcing, or attempting to enforce any order, rule, or regulation or adopting any other device or method to prevent an employee from engaging in political activities, accepting candidacy for nomination to, election to, or the holding of, political office, holding a position as a member of a political committee, soliciting or receiving funds for political purpose, acting as chairman or participating in a political convention, assuming the conduct of any political campaign, signing, or subscribing his name to any initiative, referendum, or recall petition, or any other petition circulated pursuant to law;

(7)  On the part of any person authorized or employed to print official ballots, or any person employed in printing ballots, giving, delivering, or knowingly permitting to be taken any ballot to or by any person other than the official under whose direction the ballots are being printed, any ballot in any form other than that prescribed by law, or with unauthorized names, with names misspelled, or with the names of candidates arranged in any way other than that authorized by law;

(8)  On the part of any election authority or official charged by law with the duty of distributing the printed ballots, or any person acting on his behalf, knowingly distributing or causing to be distributed any ballot in any manner other than that prescribed by law;

(9)  Any person having in his possession any official ballot, except in the performance of his duty as an election authority or official, or in the act of exercising his individual voting privilege;

(10)  Willfully mutilating, defacing, or altering any ballot before it is delivered to a voter;

(11)  On the part of any election judge, willfully absenting himself from the polls on election day without good cause or willfully detaining any election material or equipment and not causing it to be produced at the voting place at the opening of the polls or within fifteen minutes thereafter;

(12)  On the part of any election authority or official, willfully neglecting, refusing, or omitting to perform any duty required of him by law with respect to holding and conducting an election, receiving and counting out the ballots, or making proper returns;

(13)  On the part of any election judge, or party watcher or challenger, furnishing any information tending in any way to show the state of the count to any other person prior to the closing of the polls;

(14)  On the part of any voter, except as otherwise provided by law, allowing his ballot to be seen by any person with the intent of letting it be known how he is about to vote or has voted, or knowingly making a false statement as to his inability to mark his ballot;

(15)  On the part of any election judge, disclosing to any person the name of any candidate for whom a voter has voted;

(16)  Interfering, or attempting to interfere, with any voter inside a polling place;

(17)  On the part of any person at any registration site, polling place, counting location or verification location, causing any breach of the peace or engaging in disorderly conduct, violence, or threats of violence whereby such registration, election, count or verification is impeded or interfered with;

(18)  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 on election day inside the building in which a polling place is located or within [twenty-five] fifty feet of the building's outer door closest to the polling place, or, on the part of any person, refusing to remove or permit removal from property owned or controlled by him, any such election sign or literature located within such distance on such day after request for removal by any person.

115.645.  To investigate allegations of election law violations, the secretary of state may subpoena such persons and records as necessary.  Upon refusal of any person to comply with any such subpoena, the secretary of state may petition the circuit court having venue for an order enforcing such subpoena.  Upon failure of any person to obey a court order enforcing the secretary of state's subpoena, the court issuing such order shall find that person in contempt and punish such person as provided by law.  For purposes of this section venue shall be in the circuit court of any county in which the persons or records subpoenaed are located.

115.648.  The attorney general shall have authority to prosecute allegations of election irregularity and fraud.

115.801.  1.  Subject to appropriation from general revenue funds, the secretary of state shall administer a grant program in an amount not to exceed one hundred thousand dollars annually for the purpose of involving youth in "Kids Voting" or other youth voting programs.  The secretary of state may promulgate rules to effectuate the provisions of this section.

2.  Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, RSMo, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536, RSMo, and, if applicable, section 536.028, RSMo.  This section and chapter 536, RSMo, are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo, to review, to delay the effective date or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2001, shall be invalid and void.

115.825.  1.  The secretary of state shall administer a grant program for the purpose of allowing election authorities to receive grants from the federal government for the purpose of improving the election process in federal elections.  The secretary of state may promulgate rules to effectuate the provisions of this section.

2.  Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, RSMo, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536, RSMo, and, if applicable, section 536.028, RSMo.  This section and chapter 536, RSMo, are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo, to review, to delay the effective date or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2001, shall be invalid and void.




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