2011 Legislation – Voting Measures 2

NEWS RELEASE    ---     From the Office of Representative Shelley Keeney - 156^th District

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:	CONTACT:    Rep. Shelley Keeney
June 9, 2011	(573) 751-5912

 2011 Legislation - Business Measures 2

Over the next few weeks, I will provide you summaries of legislation that the House and Senate passed this session. 

Voter Identification and Early Voting  -- The Missouri General Assembly approved both Senate Joint Resolution 2 and Senate Bill 3 to establish photo identification requirements for voting.  SJR 2 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would require anyone wishing to vote to provide valid, government-issued photo identification.  Passage of SJR 2 also would establish in the Missouri Constitution that advance voting is allowed in Missouri. 

If SJR 2 is approved by Missouri voters, SB 3 would put into law the specific requirements for voter identification.  It would require voters to provide valid, government-issued photo identification at the polls unless they sign an affidavit attesting they were not able to obtain photo identification for one of several reasons defined in the bill.  The reasons include an inability to obtain photo identification because of: a physical or mental disability, an inability to pay for a document necessary to obtain the required identification, a religious belief against forms of identification or a birthday before January 1, 1941.  In addition, the legislation requires the state to provide at least one form of identification required to vote at no cost to the voter. 

SB 3 also would implement provisions for advance voting.  The bill would allow voting on two Saturdays and seven weekdays before Election Day for presidential, senatorial and statewide elections.  It also requires at least one “advance-voting center” to be established in every county.  In more populous counties, at least one center would be required for every 100,000 residents.

Electronic Voter Identification -- HB 217 allows an election authority to use an electronic voter identification system or an electronic signature pad to verify a voter’s address, registration status, and signature information at a polling place.  Signature pads must be able to read information from a person’s driver’s license or state identification card.  The system must also allow election officials to enter the information manually.  A similar system is already in place in Greene County, where it has been successful in helping election officials be able to check voters through in a quicker manner.

Presidential Primary and Special Elections for Statewide Officials -- SB 282 will move Missouri’s presidential primary from February to March.  Specifically, the 2012 primary will take place on March 6 rather than February 7.  The change allows Missouri to stay in compliance with rules set by national political parties.

SB 282 also requires that a special statewide election is held in order to fill a vacancy in the state offices of lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer -- or United States senator.  Under the current law, the Governor makes the appointment of a replacement.  Missouri law already requires special elections to fill vacancies for state legislators and members of Congress.

The trip to Joplin on the 8^th was hard.  Seeing the destruction first-hand was unlike anything you have seen as a video.  Nevertheless, I am happy to have been able to join my legislative colleagues in trying to help, even though it seems like a small amount when you look at the larger recovery efforts that will be needed for a long period of time.

Please let me know if you would like to receive my weekly updates via electronic E-Mail, by sending an email with your name to: Shelley.Keeney@house.mo.gov

As always, I appreciate hearing your comments, opinions and concerns about state government.  Please feel free to contact me in Jefferson City at (573) 751-5912.  You may write me at: Shelley Keeney; Missouri House of Representatives; State Capitol -- Room 313; Jefferson City, MO 65101-6806 or email me.