Bill > SB1132

This bill modifies Missouri's election procedures, with a primary focus on transitioning away from electronic voting systems and toward paper ballots. The bill eliminates previous definitions and provisions related to electronic voting machines, touchscreen voting systems, and ballot cards, instead mandating that beginning January 1, 2023, all official ballots must be paper ballots that are hand-marked by voters or their designated assistants. The legislation requires voting machines designed for accessibility to print out a paper ballot for each voter, which must contain a distinguishing mark beside each candidate and question voted for. The bill also introduces more stringent cybersecurity requirements for election authorities, including mandatory biennial cyber security reviews conducted by specialized entities with specific information security expertise. Additionally, the bill maintains existing provisions for provisional voting, establishes detailed procedures for handling and counting ballots, and includes provisions for maintaining the integrity of the voting process. The bill specifies that these new election procedures will become fully effective on January 1, 2027, giving election authorities time to implement the new requirements. The changes aim to enhance election transparency, security, and voter confidence by standardizing ballot formats and introducing more rigorous technological oversight.

Government Affairs

https://www.senate.mo.gov/26info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=258