Bill > HB694

This bill creates a new provision allowing electronic signatures for initiative and referendum petitions in Missouri. The secretary of state will be required to establish a website where voters can submit electronic signatures, giving them the choice between electronic and manual signing. To be valid, electronic signatures must meet several specific requirements: voters must submit their name, address, county, date of birth, and a unique identifier provided by the secretary of state; the signature must match voter registration records; it cannot have been previously submitted or repudiated by the voter; and it must conform to rules established by the secretary of state. The bill mandates that electronic signatures have the same legal standing as manual signatures and removes the need for circulator signatures or notarization for electronic submissions. The secretary of state must maintain an audit trail of electronic signature submissions, including internet protocol addresses, submitted data, submission time and date, and verification information. The bill also requires that any rules created to implement this process must comply with existing state administrative rulemaking procedures, with provisions ensuring that if any part of the rulemaking process is found unconstitutional, the entire electronic signature provision would be invalidated.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB694&year=2025&code=R