COVID-19 – 2020 Election Security Law Resources

Governor Mike Parson signed Election Security legislation (SB 631) into law to ensure Missouri voters can trust the integrity of our 2020 elections.  Missouri is now an example to the nation of how to handle voting during the COVID-19 crisis.

Our legislature made clear they would not support universal or permanent vote-by-mail policies. They would not open Missouri’s voting process to “ballot harvesting” where partisan groups collect ballots and turn them over in bulk to election authorities.  And they were not going to allow non-citizens to vote.

What others are saying about the legislation

“In Missouri, we have devised a commonsense solution that ensures every citizen who wants to cast a vote can do so safely while upholding the most stringent standards of election integrity and putting a hard stop to efforts by partisans attempting to take advantage of this crisis to advance a liberal agenda.” –State Senator Dave Schatz

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/op-eds/how-missouri-protected-the-vote-while-also-protecting-the-voter

“We should be concerned about the approach from other states or new federal court rulings that mandate a framework for universal or permanent vote-by-mail policies. But, let me be very clear – this is not happening in Missouri. We will not open our absentee voting process to “ballot harvesting” – where partisan groups collect ballots from voters and turn them over in bulk to election authorities. And we will not allow non-citizens to vote.” –Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller

https://www.news-leader.com/story/opinion/2020/05/23/shane-schoeller-legislature-struck-right-balance-voting-bill/5247865002/

Key Features of New Election Security Law

• Provides Missourians affected or at-risk of COVID-19 with reasonable choices to vote under a safe and secure process
• Safeguards our election process and integrity of our elections
• Does not create universal or permanent vote-by-mail policies
• Outlaws “ballot harvesting”
• Protects the principle of “one person, one vote”
• Voters must request ballots and not be sent to inactive voters
• Ballots must be cast and received by election day
• Does not allow non-citizens to vote
• Expires at the end of the year

Summary: How Voters Concerned About COVID-19 Can Vote Under the New Law

“Most voters would not notice a difference in the way they cast a ballot. Under the legislation, a mail-in ballot would only be an option for those worried about risking avoidable exposure to the coronavirus while voting in-person. First, a registered voter in Missouri must request a mail-in voter application in person or by mail before receiving their 2020 mail-in absentee ballot. Only voters who request a mail-in ballot would receive a mail-in ballot. Second, to protect against fraud and ensure voters can trust the integrity of Missouri’s election results, that voter must submit with their ballot a

notarized statement under penalty of perjury. Finally, voters would have to return their ballot by mail, and the ballot received by 7:00 p.m. when polls close on election day.” – Shane Schoeller

You can read the bill summary here.