HB 850
Modifies various provisions relating to elections
Sponsor:
LR Number:
1888S.10F
Last Action:
5/14/2021 - Referred H Fiscal Review
Journal Page:
Title:
SS HB 850
Calendar Position:
Effective Date:
August 28, 2021
House Handler:

Current Bill Summary

SS/HB 850 - This act modifies various provisions relating to elections.

ELECTIONS COSTS

The act prohibits any person, as defined in the act, from contributing, donating, paying, or otherwise transferring money or equipment to any election authority, state officer, employee, department, board, or other state entity for the purpose of conducting elections.

Furthermore, no such person shall pay for the costs or expenses relating to the conduct of elections.

This provision is identical to a provision in HCS/SS/SCS/SB 27 (2021).

PRIMARY ELECTIONS FOR STATEWIDE OFFICERS AND CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES

This act creates a new primary election process for the offices of United States Senator, United States Representative, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Treasurer, and State Auditor. The primary election for these offices will take place on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June in even-numbered years in years in which the office is up for election at the general election. In order to claim the nomination for any such office, a candidate must win a majority of the votes cast. If no candidate wins a majority of the votes cast, then the Secretary of State shall call a runoff primary election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in August following the announcement. These provisions expire December 31, 2024.

ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES - PAPER BALLOTS

The act stipulates that no electronic voting system shall be approved unless, among other criteria already required by law, the machine produces the election results from paper ballots that voters have marked by hand or, in the case of disabled voters who need assistance, from paper ballots that have been marked by paper ballot-marking devices designed to assist disabled voters.

This provision is substantially similar to a provision in SB 378 (2021), HB 842 (2021), HB 925 (2021), SB 113 (2019), HB 543 (2019), SCS/HB 2208 (2018), SB 1067 (2018), SB 399 (2015), and SCS/SB 623 (2014) and similar to SCS/SB 375 (2013), SB 542 (2012), SB 418 (2011), and HB 1490 (2010).

CHALLENGES TO BALLOT TITLES PREPARED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

This act provides that no court shall have jurisdiction to hear any action challenging the summary statement or fiscal note summary prepared by the General Assembly for a statewide ballot measure prepared by the General Assembly.

This provision is identical to SB 399 (2021).

LABELING OF BALLOT MEASURES

(Section 116.225)

The act requires the use of specific labels for ballot measures depending on the type of measure it is. Statewide statutory ballot measures and referendums shall be labeled by the Secretary of State with the letters A through I. County ballot measures shall be labeled with the letters J through R. Local ballot measures shall be labeled with the letters S through Z.

This provision is identical to a provision in SCS/HS/HCS/HB 738 (2021) and substantially similar to HCS/HB 556 (2021).

SCOTT SVAGERA

SA 1 - MODIFIES FILING REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN CANDIDATES IN ST. LOUIS CITY.

SA 2 - REQUIRES ELECTRONIC VOTER REGISTRATION TRANSFER FROM DOR.

SA 3 - REQUIRES THE PHASE OUT OF TOUCHSCREEN DIRECT-RECORDING ELECTRONIC VOTE-COUNTING MACHINES.