Bill Text: MO HB1278 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires election authorities to make available at least one electronic voting machine per polling location for blind or visually impaired voters at an election in order to comply with federal law
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-16 - Referred: Elections(H) [HB1278 Detail]
Download: Missouri-2014-HB1278-Introduced.html
SECOND REGULAR SESSION
97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES ENGLISH (Sponsor), HICKS, ZERR, MAYFIELD, MIMS, MCCAHERTY, MUNTZEL, WALKER, RUNIONS, LAFAVER, BURNS, BLACK, PACE, ALLEN AND SCHUPP (Co-sponsors).
4181H.01I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 115, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to visually impaired voters.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 115, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 115.1000, to read as follows:
115.1000. 1. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, all election authorities in this state shall make available for all statewide elections, elections for the general assembly, or local elections, at least one voting machine per polling location for use by blind or visually impaired persons. For purposes of this section, each election authority shall be assumed to possess an accessible voter machine for purposes of compliance with the Help America Vote Act, and such machine shall be made available at state and local elections in the same manner as for federal elections.
2. Any additional election costs for the maintenance and use of such machines during statewide and general assembly elections shall be paid by the state and subject to appropriation.
3. Any qualified voter may cast a ballot using the accessible voting machine without confirmation of blindness or visual impairment by an election authority, but the provisions of this section shall not be interpreted to require that blind or visually impaired persons use an accessible voting machine. Blind or visually impaired voters may continue to vote by absentee ballot as provided by general law, or by any other legal method of voting with the assistance of election judges, upon signing an affidavit, under section 115.445.
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