HCS SB 581 -- ELECTIONS

SPONSOR:  Griesheimer (Dugger)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Elections
by a vote of 8 to 1.

This substitute changes the laws regarding elections.  In its
main provisions, the substitute:

(1)  Allows a third or fourth class city council to submit a
question to the voters in the form of an advisory referendum.
The vote will only be used as a measure of public preference and
will not have the force and effect of law;

(2)  Revises the oath that an election judge takes prior to being
commissioned or beginning his or her duties by requiring the
election judge to swear to support and defend the Constitution of
the United States and of Missouri; and

(3)  Repeals the provision that requires a political party's
emblem to be printed on an election ballot above the party
caption.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2011, FY 2012, and
FY 2013.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill will allow voters in
third class cities to have the same input as those in fourth
class cities by allowing advisory referendums.  There is some
dispute over whether even fourth class cities may hold advisory
referendums, and the bill will clarify that dispute.

Testifying for the bill was Senator Griesheimer.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:14 pm