Bill > HB1156

This bill makes significant changes to Missouri's primary election system by introducing a closed primary election method. The key provisions include requiring voters to be affiliated with a specific political party at least 23 weeks prior to a primary election in order to vote in that party's primary. Each established political party will have its own separate ballot, and an additional ballot will be available for unaffiliated voters containing only ballot measures and nonpartisan candidates. Voters will only be able to receive and vote on the ballot of the political party with which they are registered, and the secretary of state will be responsible for maintaining and distributing lists of eligible voters for each party. The closed primary system will become mandatory for all partisan office elections starting in January 2026, though political parties can choose to opt out and conduct their own caucus or primary at their own expense. The bill also includes provisions for updating voter registration forms to include party affiliation choices, allows voters to declare party affiliation during election check-in, and requires election authorities to notify voters about these new party affiliation requirements through existing election mailings prior to January 1, 2025.

Government Affairs

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1156&year=2025&code=R