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HCS/SB 90 - This act modifies provisions relating to elections. AFFIDAVIT REQUIREMENT FOR CERTAIN COUNTY OFFICES - 52.010, 54.040, & 54.030 This act requires candidates for county collector, county treasurer, and county collector-treasurer to provide to the election authority a copy of a signed affidavit from a surety company indicating the candidate's ability to meet statutory bond requirements for the office. These provisions are identical to SB 283 (2013) and are similar to HB 235 (2013), a provision of SCS/SB 671 (2012), and a provision of HCS/HB 1106 (2012). CITY COUNCIL TERMS IN THIRD CLASS CITIES - 77.030 This act allows council members in third class cities to serve four-year terms by vote of the people. If four-year terms are approved, the extended terms begin with any council member elected to office after the approval of the ballot question. This provision is identical to SB 821 (2012). PRIMARY ELECTIONS IN CERTAIN THIRD CLASS CITIES - 78.090 Certain third class cities are allowed to eliminate, by ordinance or order, primary elections for mayor and councilmen offices. Any person wishing to become a candidate for these offices must file a statement of candidacy with the city clerk in order to be placed on the ballot. This provision is identical to HB 163 (2013) and a provision in the truly agreed to and finally passed version of SB 569 (2012). NONPARTISAN ELECTIONS IN CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES - 115.124 Under current law, no election is held in a non-partisan elections in political subdivisions or special districts, excluding municipal elections, if the number of candidates who have filed for a particular office is equal to the number of positions in that office to be filled and proper notice is given. Under this act, in municipalities with 6,000 or fewer inhabitants, the governing body of the municipality may submit to voters a proposal to allow for no election to be held if the number of candidates for a non-partisan office is equal to the number of positions to be filled and proper notice is given. If a majority of voters approve the proposal, then the municipality must conduct non-partisan elections in such manner. In addition, this act requires the election authority, if no election is held for a non-partisan office in a political subdivision or special district, to publish a notice containing the names of the candidates that will assume office. The notice must be published by April 1 in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the political subdivision or district. VOTING MACHINES - 115.249 & 115.259 Under current law, voting machines are required to permit voters at a presidential election to vote by use of a single lever for candidates of one party for president, vice president and their electors. They are also required to have mechanical model that illustrates the manner of voting and be placed so that the ballot labels can be seen by the elections judges when not in use. These provisions are repealed. These provisions are identical to HCS/HB 199 (2013). ABSENTEE BALLOTS - 115.281, 115.299, & 115.300 Under current law, the words "Official Absentee Ballot" is required to appear at the top of an absentee ballot. This act requires that they be in the same form as an official ballot. Under current law, the election authority is required to appoint 2 judges from each major political party to count absentee ballots. Under this act, they are required to appoint an equal number of judges from each major political party. A provision requiring that absentee ballots may not be counted by the same person who removed the ballots from the envelopes is repealed. These provisions are identical to HCS/HB 199 (2013). BALLOT CORRECTIONS - 115.383 This act repeals a provision requiring the election authority to prepare pasters to cover names to be removed from, or changed on, ballots if time does not permit the correction of a printed ballot. This provision is identical to a provision of HCS/HB 199 (2013). ELECTION AUTHORITY DUTIES - 115.419 Under current law, the election authority must deliver to each polling place before the pools open a sufficient number of sample ballots, ballot cards, or ballot labels. This act repeals the reference to ballot labels. This provision is identical to a provision of HCS/HB 199 (2013). ELECTION JUDGES - 115.423, 115.433, & 115.436 Currently, election judges are required to open the ballot box after the polls open but before voting begins. This act requires this practice to occur not more than one hour before voting begins. The act repeals a provision requiring ballot cards to be initialed by election judges and a provision requiring ballots to be sealed inside an envelope before they are placed in the ballot box. These provisions are identical to provisions of HCS/HB 199 (2013). VOTING PROCEDURES - 115.439, 115.449, 115.455, 115.456, & 115.493 Current law requires voters to place an X in the square directly to the left of the name of the candidate for which the voters intends to vote or, when the ballot contains no candidates, place an X directly the left of the "yes" or "no". This act requires the voter to use a distinguishing mark instead of an X, and, when the ballot contains names of candidate, to place the X immediately beside the name of the candidate rather than directly to the left. This act repeals provisions of current law that allow a voter who wants to vote for person who does not appear on a ballot to cross out a name on the ballot for the office and write in a name above or below the crossed out name. This act repeals a provision stating that a punch or sensor mark or other mark clearly indicating the voter intended to mark the square is equivalent to an X mark. Also repealed is a provision regarding voting procedures when voting machines are used. In addition, this act repeals a provision allowing for stickers to be used for write-in candidates, a provision requiring ballots to be strung on a wire or string in the order read, and standards pertaining to punch card voting systems. Currently, ballot materials may be destroyed 12 months after the date of the election. This act extends that time to 22 months. These provisions are identical to provisions of HCS/HB 199 (2013). ELECTION RECOUNTS - 115.601 Currently, in cases where the candidate filed or a petition for a ballot question was filed in the Secretary of State's office, the candidate or petitioner is allowed a recount if the candidate or measure was defeated by less than 1%. This act changes that threshold to less than 1/2 of 1%. This provision is identical to a provision of HCS/HB 110 (2013). MEGHAN LUECKE
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