Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes the requirements of a photo ID as well as the usage of a paper ballot for upcoming voting

Highlights:

• Establishes the Secretary of State has the authority to, at his or her discretion, audit the list of registered voters for any election authority to ensure accuracy (Sec. A-1).

• Requires the audits conducted by the secretary of state to, at a minimum, verify the following (Sec. A-3):

• That a registered voter is alive;

• That a registered voter currently resides within the jurisdiction of election authority; and

• That a registered voter is entitled to vote.

• If names are found that do not meet the criteria, the secretary of state will instruct the election authority to remove the names from the list of registered voters. The secretary of state may conduct a second audit to ensure the names were removed.

• Authorizes the committee of each major political party within the jurisdiction of an election authority to provide the election authority with a list of election judge candidates who meet the requirements. The candidates will not be required to reside within the jurisdiction of the election authority (Sec. 115.081-2).

• Specifies the candidates are not required to reside within the jurisdiction of the election authority. If the election authority determines that a name submitted by a committee of a major political party is not qualified to serve as a poll watcher, the election authority shall allow the party to submit another name (Sec. 115.107-1).

• Requires voter registration information, including an electronic image of the signature of the applicant, will be transmitted in a format compatible with the Missouri voter registration system which allows for review by the election authority and does not require the election authority to manually reenter the information (Sec. 115.160-5).

• Requires each voter registration solicitor to provide the following information in writing to the secretary of state's office (Sec. 115.205-2):

• The name of the voter registration solicitor;

• The residential address, including street number, city, state, and zip code;

• The mailing address, if different from the residential address; and

• The signature of the voter registration solicitor.

• Specifies if any election authority uses any touchscreen, direct-recording, electronic vote-counting machine, the election authority may continue to use such machine. Upon the removal of such voting machines from the election authority's inventory because of mechanical malfunction, wear and tear, or any other reason, the machine shall not be replaced and no additional direct-recording electronic voting machine shall be added to the election authority's inventory (Sec. 115.225-5).

• Authorizes the secretary of state to require cybersecurity testing, including penetration testing, of vendor machines, programs, and systems. Failure to participate in such testing shall result in a revocation of vendor certification (Sec. 115.225-7).

• Authorizes a voter to request an absentee ballot for any of the following reasons (Sec. 115.277-2):

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

• Incapacity or confinement due to illness or physical disability on election day, including a person who is primarily responsible for the physical care of a person who is incapacitated or confined due to illness or disability and resides at the same address;

• Religious belief or practice;

• 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;

• Incarceration, provided all qualifications for voting are retained; or

• Certified participation in the address confidentiality program because of safety concerns.

• Specifies absentee ballots received by the election authority in person or other authorized location designated by the election authority are deemed cast when received before election day (Sec. 115.286).

Full Bill Text