Help America Vote Act
Missouri's State Plan

INTRODUCTION

1. Description of Missouri's present system as it relates to HAVA:
   1. Statutory and administrative framework;
   2. State and local roles/responsibilities;
   3. Voting age population;
   4. Voting eligible population;
   5. Turnout;
   6. Number and percent of absentee ballots cast;
   7. Number of punch card, optical scan & accessible DRE systems;
   8. Voting registration systems.
      
      
2. Statement of goals or mission statement reflecting intent of State Plan.

 

Introduction

State and local governments will be faced with a dramatic shift in elections responsibility as a result of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), public law 107-252. Meeting many of HAVA's requirements is mandatory regardless of the availability of federal funds. Following is a brief overview of Missouri 's present elections system.

Statutory and Administrative Framework

Election authorities and the conduct of elections in Missouri are governed by Chapter 115 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri (RSMo), known as the "Comprehensive Election Act of 1977", as amended. Missouri election laws establish comprehensive procedures to conduct full and fair elections, including provisions on the Intent of the Act and Definitions (sections 115.001-115.013); Election Authorities (sections 115.015-115.077); Election Judges (sections 115.079-115.103); Challengers and Watchers (sections 115.104-115.111); Precincts and Polling Places (sections 115.113-115.119); Elections, When Held-Notice, How Given (sections 115.121-115.129); Qualifications of Voters and Registration (sections 115.133-115.223); Automated Voting Equipment (sections 115.225-115.273); Absentee Voting (sections 115.275 to 115.304); Political Parties and Nomination of Candidates (sections 115.305-115.405); Polling Places and Voting Procedures (sections 115.407-115.445); Counting of Votes (sections 115.447-115.525); Election Contests (sections 115.526-115.601); Political Party Committees (sections 115.603-115.627); Election Offenses (sections 115.629-115.646); Mail-In Ballots, Certain Elections (sections 115.650-115.660); Local Issues-Petition (section 115.700); and Presidential Primary (sections 115.755 to 115.785).

 

In addition, pursuant to statutory authority the Secretary of State has promulgated administrative rules on Voter Identification (15 CSR 30-3.010); Postcard Voter Application and Forms (15 CSR 30-4.010); Mail Ballot Election Procedures and Forms (15 CSR 30-5.020); Provisional Voting Procedures (15 CSR 30-8.010-15 CSR 30-8.020); Uniform Counting Standards (15 CSR 30-9.010-15 CSR 30-9.040); and Voting Machines (Electronic) (15 CSR 30-10.010-15 CSR 30-10.120).

State and Local Roles/Responsibilities

The Secretary of State is the Chief State Election Official whose responsibilities for state and federal elections include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Certification of voting and ballot counting systems used in Missouri;
2. Design and maintenance of the Centralized Voter Registration Database;
3. Candidate filing and ballot certification for the six constitutional state offices, U.S. Congress, the General Assembly, and circuit judges not covered by the non-partisan court plan;
4. Canvassing and certification of votes, and publishing of election results;
5. Rulemaking authority in the following areas related to HAVA;
   1. Ballot counting procedures, including uniform counting standards for each voting system approved for use in Missouri;
   2. Voter registration forms;
   3. Provisional voting and ballots;
   4. Machine certification;
   5. Voter identification requirements; and
   6. Centralized Voter Registration Database;
6. Development and distribution of training materials for local election officials and poll workers; and
7. Assisting the 116 local election authorities interpret and administer state election laws.

The Secretary of State cooperates with other officials, schools, and civic organizations to provide materials supporting voter registration, responsibility and education.  A high priority of the Secretary of State is to work with local election officials, the media and other groups to increase voter participation.

In Missouri , there are 116 local election authorities. Election authorities are responsible for supervising the voter registration process, maintaining the voter registration rolls for its jurisdiction, and conducting all public elections for the State and all political subdivisions within its jurisdiction. This includes all federal, state, county, municipal, school district, fire district, water district, and any other special district elections. Any election administration duty not specifically assigned by statute to the Secretary of State is the responsibility of the local election authorities.

Voting Age Population

According to 2000 Census figures, there are 4,167,519 Missourians of voting age. This is up from 1990, when Missouri's voting age population totaled 3,801,603.

Voting Eligible Population

Currently, Missouri has over 3.6 million registered voters. In the November, 2000 general election, 2.3 million voters went to the polls. In the November, 2002, nearly 1.9 million Missourians cast ballots.

Turnout

50.9 percent of Missouri 's registered voters participated in the November, 2002 general election, a number higher than the estimated national average of 39 percent. Turnout for the November, 2000 general election , a presidential election year, was even higher, with over 60 percent of Missouri 's registered voters casting ballots.

Number and Type of Voting Systems in Missouri

There are three voting systems currently approved for use and used in Missouri: (1) Manual (paper ballot); (2) punch card; and (3) optical scan. Following is a chart showing the type of voting system used by each Missouri County, the total number of registered voters by voting system, and the total jurisdictions by voting system:

County	Manual	Punch Card	Optical Scan
Adair		18467
Andrew			10523
Atchison			4914
Audrain		16329
Barry			21399
Barton			9204
Bates			10948
Benton			13055
Bollinger			9535
Boone			93722
Buchanan			54358
Butler		35318
Caldwell		6109
Callaway		23874
Camden		28400
Cape Girardeau		42017
Carroll		7328
Carter	5082
Cass			62000
Cedar		10266
Chariton	6881
Christian			48080
Clark			5098
Clay			104613
Clinton			14741
Cole		49463
Cooper			10448
Crawford		17237
Dade	6108
Dallas			9864
Daviess			5416
DeKalb			6110
Dent		7580
Douglas			9884
Dunklin			23510
Franklin		61937
Gasconade		10266
Gentry			5228
Greene		177209
Grundy			6276
Harrison	6483
Henry			16053
Hickory			6137
Holt			4477
Howard			7400
Howell			19828
Iron			6646
Jackson		202229
Jasper		72656
Jefferson		111352
Johnson			22953
Kansas City		276694
Knox			3215
Laclede			20733
Lafayette			20522
Lawrence		22787
Lewis			6951
Lincoln			27554
Linn		9605
Livingston		9794
Macon			10261
Madison			9378
Maries			6622
Marion		19921
McDonald		12933
Mercer	2828
Miller			16315
Mississippi			9898
Moniteau			9233
Monroe			6291
Montgomery			8031
Morgan			12425
New Madrid			11507
Newton			39684
Nodaway			12899
Oregon			6907
Osage			8719
Ozark			7078
Pemiscot		16855
Perry		11975
Pettis		25433
Phelps		23906
Pike			11130
Platte			55025
Polk		15108
Pulaski			20983
Putnam			4044
Ralls			7400
Randolph		16498
Ray		17022
Reynolds	6888
Ripley			10208
Saline			17939
Schuyler			3516
Scotland	3306
Scott			26154
Shannon	6787
Shelby			4591
St. Charles		172524
St. Clair			6512
St. Francois			37637
St. Louis County		618149
St. Louis City		193274
Ste. Genevieve		11029
Stoddard			21377
Stone			22906
Sullivan			5214
Taney		30623
Texas			14981
Vernon			11631
Warren		17343
Washington			15876
Wayne			9278
Webster			20092
Worth	2206
Wright			12628
TOTAL REGISTERED VOTERS BY VOTING SYSTEM	46569	2419510	1215765
TOTAL JURISDICTIONS BY VOTING SYSTEM	9	37	70

Of the 70 optical scan counties, 7 have precinct scanners in every polling place, 23 have precinct scanners in some polling places, and 40 have only a central count optical scan.

Voter Registration Systems

Local. Current Missouri law provides that local election authorities are responsible for registering voters and maintaining the voter registration rolls in their jurisdictions.

State. By statute, the Secretary of State maintains a centralized voter registration database (CVRDB). It is a three-part system, consisting of (1) the CVRDB; (2) a stand alone local voter registration system for 111 county election authorities (LEMS-a comprehensive voter registration software); and (3) an interface capability for 5 election authorities that use and maintain their own individual systems (Interface Counties).

The current statewide CVRDB does not comply with HAVA. It will have to be upgraded, or a new system developed, to comply with the HAVA requirements.

Mission Statement

The mission statement of Missouri's State Plan Committee is to provide advice and to assist the Secretary of State in developing Missouri's State Plan, a comprehensive report detailing the steps Missouri will take to improve its election services and how Missouri will spend any federal dollars received to comply with the requirements of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA).