Modifies provisions relating to elections

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Official Summary Text

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Senate Committee Substitute

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SCS/SB 986 - This act modifies various provisions relating to elections.

Voter Registration - Documentary Proof of Citizenship
The act requires the citizenship status of each person submitting a voter registration application to be verified by local election authorities (LEAs). In the event that an applicant's citizenship status cannot be verified by the LEA, the applicant must provide documentary proof of citizenship. Nothing in this act shall require a person who appears on the list of registered voters or who seeks to transfer voter registration within this state from being required to provide an election authority documentary proof of United States citizenship, unless the person is stricken from the list of registered voters and the person thereafter seeks to register to vote.

Specific provisions are created for persons who register to vote using the National Mail Voter Registration form provided by the Federal Election Assistance Commission. These persons are referred to as "federal-only voters" and are only permitted to vote in federal contests, as that term is defined in the act. Federal-only voters may vote either in person on election day at the office of the LEA or by absentee ballot. Additionally, ballots cast by a federal-only voter must be treated the same as a provisional ballot.

Maintenance of Voter Registration Lists
Current law requires the Secretary of State to enter into an agreement with the Department of Revenue to match information in the voter registration system with the information in the database of the motor vehicle system. This act requires such agreement to include matching information pertaining to the citizenship status of those within the Department of Revenue's database.

This provision is identical to a provision in HB 2125 (2026).

The clerk of each circuit court in the state is required to prepare and transmit to the Secretary of State (SOS) a complete list of all persons who identify themselves as not being citizens of the United States when called to jury duty. This report shall be sent on a monthly basis.

If an election authority determines that a person who is not eligible to vote registered to vote or voted in an election, the election authority shall execute and deliver to the Attorney General, SOS, and the relevant prosecuting or circuit attorney an affidavit stating the relevant facts.

Absentee Voting
The act allows eligible covered voters to vote absentee by submitting a federal postcard application at the office of the election authority on election day even though the person is not registered.

This provision is identical to a provision in SB 836 (2026).

Referral of Violation of Election Laws
Current law provides that if the SOS finds that reasonable grounds appear that the alleged election offense was committed, the SOS may issue a probable cause statement and refer the offense to the appropriate prosecuting attorney. This act permits referral to the appropriate prosecuting attorney or the Attorney General.

This act contains a severability clause and a contingent effective date, based on when the Secretary of State notifies the Revisor of Statutes that citizenship verification data is able to be utilized through the Missouri centralized voter registration database.

This act is similar to SCS/SB 62 (2025).
SCOTT SVAGERA

Introduced

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SB 986 - This act modifies various provisions relating to elections.

VOTER REGISTRATION - DOCUMENTARY PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP (Sections 115.013 to 115.160)
The act requires documentary proof of United States citizenship, as that term is defined in the act, in order to register to vote, provided that persons already registered to vote and those seeking to transfer voter registration within the state are not required to provide such proof.

Additionally, all information required to be provided on a voter registration form shall be personally provided by the person seeking to register.

MAINTENANCE OF VOTER REGISTRATION LISTS (Sections 115.195 and 115.221)
The clerk of each circuit court in the state is required to prepare and transmit to the SOS a complete list of all persons who identify themselves as not being citizens of the United States when called to jury duty. This report shall be sent on a monthly basis.

If an election authority determines that a person who is not eligible to vote registered to vote or voted in an election, the election authority shall execute and deliver to the Attorney General, SOS, and the relevant prosecuting or circuit attorney an affidavit stating the relevant facts.

REFERRAL OF VIOLATION OF ELECTION LAWS (Section 115.642)
Current law provides that if the SOS finds that reasonable grounds appear that the alleged election offense was committed, the SOS may issue a probable cause statement and refer the offense to the appropriate prosecuting attorney. This act permits referral to the appropriate prosecuting attorney or the Attorney General.

This act is substantially similar to SCS/SB 62 (2025).
SCOTT SVAGERA