SS/SCS/HCS/HB 1871 - This act modifies various provisions relating to elections. ELECTION WORKER APPRECIATION DAY (Section 9.515) This act designates August 12th of each year as "Election Worker Appreciation Day" in Missouri. This provision is identical to HB 3441 (2026). DISSOLUTION OF CANDIDATE COMMITTEES (Section 105.465) Current law requires any person who registers as a lobbyist to dissolve any candidate committee the person may have in existence. This act allows any person who has registered as a lobbyist and also has a candidate committee for the purpose of seeking a county, municipal, or school board office to maintain the candidate committee, provided the person is not lobbying the county, municipality, or school board for which the candidate committee is designated to seek office. Nothing in this act shall prohibit a person from changing the designated office sought by his or her candidate committee, provided such person is never simultaneously registered to lobby the public office for which such person's committee is designated to seek office. This provision is identical to SCS/SB 976 (2026) and a provision in SCS/HCS/HB 1788 (2026). NOTICES OF ELECTION (Sections 108.240, 115.125, and 115.127) The act modifies provisions governing bond elections and publication of notice for elections. In the case of any bond election, if an election contest is not filed within the time period prescribed by law (not later than thirty days after the official announcement of the election result), then all conditions of state election law shall be deemed to have been complied with in the issuance of the bond. The act modifies the legal notice required for all elections by requiring local election authorities to publish notice twice in at least two qualified newspapers, except as otherwise permitted pursuant to this act, within 6 weeks prior to the election. In lieu of such requirement, election authorities have the option of mailing legal notice to each registered voter within 6 weeks of an election and publishing notice once in at least one newspaper in the county. The act additionally allows a notice of election to be sent by email. These provisions are identical to certain provisions contained in SS/SCS/SB 1094 (2026) and substantially similar to provisions in the truly agreed to SCS/HB 1940 (2026), provisions in HCS/HB 2605 (2026), SCS/HB 3000 (2026), provisions in SCS/SB 182 (2025), SB 926 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 1525 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 2140 (2024), and a provision in HCS/HB 2895 (2024). 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 the truly agreed to SCS/HB 1940 (2026), a provision in SCS/SB 836 (2026), SB 1095 (2026), a provision in HCS/SCS/SB 1023 (2026), HB 1987 (2026), SCS/SB 182 (2025), SB 774 (2024), a provision in SB 926 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 1525 (2024), HB 1604 (2024), a provision in SCS/HB 2084 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 2140 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 2206 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 2895 (2024), a provision in SCS/SB 346 (2023), and CCS/HS/HCS/SS#2/SCS/SB 96 (2023) and substantially similar to HB 2225 (2024), HCS/HB 1214 (2023), provisions in the perfected HCS/HBs 267 & 347 (2023), and HCS/HB 783 (2023). VOTER QUALIFICATIONS (Section 115.133) The act modifies voter qualifications. Current law provides that no person shall be entitled to vote while on probation or parole after conviction of a felony, until finally discharged from such probation or parole. This act modifies that provision by prohibiting voting for any person on probation or parole after a conviction of a felony for murder, assault punishable as a class A or B felony, incest, child endangerment, burglary in the first degree, or any felony under chapter 566 (sexual offenses) or chapter 573 (pornography). This provision is identical to SCS/HCS/HBs 2592, et al (2026) and similar to a provision in HB 1957 (2026), a provision in HCS/HBs 2751, et al (2026), SB 714 (2025), HB 617 (2025), SB 1199 (2024), HB 1603 (2024), HB 1927 (2024), HB 2201 (2024), a provision in HB 2371 (2024), a provision in HB 2679 (2024), HB 2755 (2024), SB 376 (2023), a provision in HCS/SS/SCS/SB 72 (2023), HCS/HB 248 (2023), HB 385 (2023), HB 387 (2023), a provision in HB 642 (2023), HB 859 (2023), SB 542 (2020), HB 1780 (2020), HB 1951 (2020), HB 2268 (2020), HB 2362 (2020), HB 2410 (2020), SB 167 (2017), and SB 924 (2016). TESTING OF ELECTION EQUIPMENT (Section 115.233) Current law requires, in any election in which an electronic voting system is to be used, an election authority to have the automatic tabulating equipment tested within 14 days prior to the election 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. This act changes the timeline for testing such that it must be completed at least 14 days, but no less than one week prior to the election. This provision is identical to a provision in SCS/SB 836 (2026). ABSENTEE VOTING (Sections 115.277 and 115.284) Under current law, eligible covered voters can vote by submitting a federal postcard application during absentee voting or at a polling place on election day even though the person is not registered. This act requires these voters to vote at the office of the election authority instead of at a polling place if they choose to vote on election day. Current law also allows interstate former residents and new residents to vote by absentee ballot for the offices for which such voters are entitled to vote. This act requires these voters to vote at the office of the election authority on election day if they choose to vote on election day. This provision is identical to a provision in SCS/SB 836 (2026), SCS/SB 182 (2025), SB 926 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 1525 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 2140 (2024), and a provision in HCS/HB 2895 (2024). The act provides that all lists of absentee ballot applications for persons with permanent disabilities shall be kept confidential. This provision is identical to provisions in SCS/SB 182 (2025), SB 926 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 1525 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 2140 (2024), and a provision in HCS/HB 2895 (2024), substantially similar to a provision in SCS/SB 836 (2026) and 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). DISQUALIFICATION OF CANDIDATES (Section 115.306) The act requires any person who files as a candidate for a public office that performs county functions in the City of St. Louis to provide copies of paid receipts or no-tax-due statements for local personal and real property taxes received from the city collector to the election authority. This provision is identical to HB 2895 (2026). VOTER IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS (Section 115.427) The act makes accommodations for individuals who appear at the office of an election authority to vote absentee and fail to present a form of personal identification by explicitly allowing such voters to cast a provisional ballot that will only be counted upon the voter returning to the office of the election authority by 7:00 p.m. on election day and presenting a form of personal identification for voting. This provision is identical to a provision in SCS/SB 836 (2026). 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 182 (2025), HCS/HB 1525 (2024), HB 2052 (2024), HCS/HB 2140 (2024), HCS/HB 2895 (2024), SCS/SB 346 (2023), the perfected HCS/HBs 267 & 347 (2023), and a provision in HCS/HB 783 (2023). WRITE-IN CANDIDATES - REPEAL OF EXEMPTION FOR ELECTIONS WITHOUT PARTY CANDIDATES (Section 115.453) Current law provides that votes for write-in candidates are only counted for candidates who have filed a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate. Current law also provides an exemption to this requirement in instances where no candidate has filed for the office in question. This act repeals the exemption so that write-in candidates are only counted when a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate has been filed with the proper election authority. This provision is identical to a provision in SCS/SB 182 (2025). ELECTION OFFENSES - ELECTIONEERING ACTIVITIES (Section 115.637) The act modifies the election offense relating to certain electioneering activities. Current law prohibits various electioneering activities on election day inside the building in which a polling place is located or within 25 feet of the building's outer door closest to the polling place. This act adds petitioning to the list of electioneering activities that are restricted by that provision. The provision also provides that these restrictions apply to candidates or questions to be voted at a current or future election and additionally at the polling place on election day as well as during the absentee voting period. A proviso is added allowing an election authority, upon notice publicly posted at the office of the election authority not later than six weeks prior to the election, to provide that specified electioneering activities on election day or during the absentee voting period inside the building in which a polling place is located may not take place within 50 feet, rather than 25 feet, of the building's outer door closest to the polling place. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a candidate who is not seeking to vote shall be allowed to be up to 25 feet from the building's outer door closest to the polling place and may distribute election literature and campaign signs shall be permitted to be placed up to 25 feet from the building's outer door closest to the polling place. This offense is a class four election offense and is a misdemeanor not connected with the exercise of the right of suffrage. Conviction for this offense is punishable 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. PUBLIC FUNDS EXPENDITURE BY POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS (Section 115.646) Currently, no expenditure of public funds shall be made by an officer, employee, or agent of a political subdivision, including school districts or charter schools, to support or oppose ballot measures or candidates. This act states that such prohibition shall apply to political subdivisions, special districts, and charter schools. This provision is substantially similar to HB 2608 (2026). CAMPAIGN FINANCE (Sections 130.031 and 130.034) The act modifies certain provisions relating to campaign finance. These provisions are identical to certain provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 1788 (2026). This act creates new provisions relating to campaign finance, and the solicitation of contributions generally. All solicitations, except those from a connected organization of a continuing committee, are required to state, in a clear and conspicuous manner, the committee that will benefit from any funds received as a result of the solicitation. The solicitation must also indicate what percentage of the donation will be received by the committee and any business, corporation, or other entity that will receive any part of the contribution. The act creates new requirements for committees that solicit recurring contributions. A committee soliciting a recurring contribution for an expenditure or printed or broadcast matter may accept the recurring contribution only if the contributor gives affirmative consent for the recurring contribution. The passive action of a contributor, including but not limited to failing to uncheck a prechecked box authorizing a recurring contribution, shall not constitute affirmative consent. If a contributor affirmatively consents to making a recurring contribution, the committee soliciting the recurring contribution shall provide a receipt to the contributor for each contribution, in the manner described more fully in the act. A committee that solicits and receives a contribution in violation of this act shall return the contribution to the contributor immediately upon receipt. Moreover, the Missouri Ethics Commission is permitted to impose a civil penalty for such violations up to 100 times the amount of the contribution. Recurring contributions to support or oppose a candidate or ballot measure shall automatically end after the election at which the candidate or ballot measure appeared on the ballot, except that recurring contributions made to any candidate who wins a primary election may continue until the general election. The act additionally permits contributions made to any committee organized under Missouri campaign finance law to be used for: • Any childcare expenses, as described in the act, that result directly from campaigning for office or in connection with the duties of public office that would not have been otherwise incurred but for those activities; and • Any expenses associated with the personal security of the holder of elective office. This provision is substantially similar to SB 1259 (2026), SB 242 (2025), HB 347 (2025), and HB 2493 (2024). SCOTT SVAGERA