HB 2380: Political Party Primary Elections
Sponsor: John Simmons
OPPOSE
Fails the spirit of the single-subject rule
HB 2380 converts Missouri's currently open party primaries into a closed primary system where only voters who have formally registered a party affiliation months in advance can vote in that party's primary. Unaffiliated voters would only get a ballot with nonpartisan races and ballot measures. It also requires party affiliation to be recorded in the state voter file and shared with local election authorities and candidates.
What Does This Bill Do?
- Closed Primary System: Requires voters to formally affiliate with a party 23 weeks before a primary to vote in it. Unaffiliated voters are restricted to nonpartisan issues.
- Data Collection & Sharing: Mandates that party affiliation be stored in the statewide voter registration system and makes this data available to candidates and party committees.
- Cybersecurity & Absentee Rules: Imposes cybersecurity review mandates on election authorities (granting SOS funding leverage) and bans third-party solicitation of absentee ballot applications.
Constitutional or Critical Context
While the bill might pass a court single-subject test, that is only because the title—"relating to political party primary elections"—is so vague, and it certainly under-informs citizens about the depth of the changes. An ordinary voter would not realize from the title that their party affiliation will be stored and widely shared with campaigns, or that the Secretary of State gains significant new funding leverage over local election authorities.
Red Flags & Recommended Amendments
Taxpayer-Funded Closed Primaries
Locks independent voters out of meaningful participation in primaries unless they formally affiliate months ahead, while still forcing them to help pay for those primaries.
Overbroad ban on “soliciting” absentee ballot applications
Could be used to chill or punish legitimate civic groups, churches, or grassroots organizations that simply help voters understand absentee options, while leaving the door open for state-run messaging only.
Drafting inconsistencies on dates in §115.628
Mentions notification before January 1, 2025 even though the reenactment is effective January 1, 2027; this is sloppy and could cause confusion or litigation on implementation.
Act for Missouri Recommendation:
Act for Missouri OPPOSES HB 2380. While there are some positive elements (cybersecurity reviews, limits on pre-filled absentee applications), the bill's core design is too broad. It illustrates how State funding complicates private groups' ability to self-govern. The better solution is to turn over the selection of Party candidates—and the funding for it—to the parties themselves.