Bill > SB408

This bill modifies Missouri state law regarding rejected absentee ballots by establishing a more comprehensive process for handling ballots that have deficiencies. Under the new provisions, if an absentee ballot is rejected due to incomplete statements, lack of voter signature, invalid signature, or other legal disqualifications, the election authority must write "Rejected" on the envelope and specify the reason for rejection. The election authority is now required to promptly notify the voter about the ballot's rejection, explain the procedure for curing the ballot, and provide a deadline for doing so. Voters will have until the end of the period for verifying provisional ballots to cure their ballot's deficiencies, which can be accomplished by submitting an affidavit to the election authority along with a copy of a legally acceptable form of identification. The affidavit must affirm that the ballot was submitted by the voter, is the voter's ballot, and that the voter is registered and qualified to vote in the election. If the voter successfully cures the ballot's issues and is found to be qualified, the ballot will be counted. The bill also mandates that the election authority retain a copy of the rejection notification in its files for at least two years.

Government Affairs

https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=53