SB 836: Elections Omnibus
Sponsor: Pending
OPPOSE
Grows Govt & Spending
SB 836 is a wide-ranging elections omnibus that rewrites numerous election statutes in Chapter 115. It reinstates a statewide presidential preference primary on the first Tuesday in March of presidential election years and sets up the filing rules, ballot format, and cost-sharing rules (with the state paying the costs). It also expands in-person absentee voting into a form of no-excuse early voting starting the fourth Tuesday before an election.
What Does This Bill Do?
- Reinstates State-Funded Presidential Preference Primary: Sets the presidential preference primary on the first Tuesday in March. It builds the framework for that election and mandates that costs are paid by the state (estimated at $9 million), even though the results are non-binding for party delegates.
- Expands Early Voting (No-Excuse Absentee window doubles to 4 weeks): Requires photo ID for in-person absentee voting but simultaneously allows no-excuse in-person absentee/early voting beginning the fourth Tuesday before an election. This expansion is legally tied to the ID rules via a nonseverability clause.
- Tightens ID Rules & Expands Bureaucracy: Tightens the acceptable ID list but requires the state to provide free nondriver IDs and free supporting documents (birth certificates, etc.). It also expands the electioneering buffer zone from 25 to 50 feet and adds complex provisional ballot procedures.
Constitutional or Critical Context
This bill acts as a Senate companion to HB 1871. It presents a "fair notice" problem by bundling numerous distinct policy shifts—such as taxpayer-funded primaries, early voting expansion, and stricter ID rules—under a single generic title. While some provisions aim for integrity, the net effect is "more state involvement, more administrative machinery, and more taxpayer exposure."
Red Flags & Recommended Amendments
Taxpayer-Funded Presidential Preference Primary
Paying for party preference and nomination infrastructure is not a proper limited-government role. The results are non-binding, making this essentially a $9 million state-funded popularity contest.
No-Excuse Early Voting Expansion
Expanding the election window to start four weeks early increases chain-of-custody risks, makes fraud detection harder, and significantly increases the administrative burden on local officials.
Act for Missouri Recommendation:
Act for Missouri OPPOSES SB 836. Even if some pieces might be framed as "election integrity," the bill is an omnibus that expands government, creates recurring taxpayer costs, and funds party-driven presidential primary infrastructure that is not a core function of limited constitutional government. All while overall hurting election integrity by expanding early voting!