Show-Me State Times

Supporters of a sweeping new election-integrity bill in Missouri said that it will shore up the security of elections in the Show Me State and increase voter confidence.

The Missouri House of Representatives recently agreed to changes that the state Senate made to HB 1878, an election-integrity bill. This earned the legislation final passage out of the legislature on a 97-47 vote. The measure, which was sponsored by state Rep. John Simmons, will now be sent to Gov. Mike Parsons for his signature.

The bill will make several significant changes to Missouri's election laws, the Columbia Missourian reported. Changes include creating a photo ID requirement, increasing the oversight powers of state officials, prohibiting ballot drop boxes and banning the use of private funds to administer elections.

"The Missouri House and Senate have made huge strides with the passage of H.B. 1878 by protecting Missouri elections through their support of these commonsense election reforms," Gregg Pfister, senior director of state government affairs at the Foundation for Government Accountability said in a statement. "This bill is one of the best in the country and tackles a critical set of election reforms that will greatly increase transparency and trust in the democratic process."

During a Senate debate, Democrats were able to add a two-week window prior to an election permitting absentee voting without the need for an excuse, as long as the voter is there in person, the Missouri Independent reported.

The ban on private funding of elections has been a source of hot debate since the 2020 election. Data compiled by a conservative organization, the Capital Research Center, showed that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg gave a nonprofit called the Center for Technology and Civic Life (CTCL) $350 million in advance of the 2020 presidential election. CTCL would go on to grant virtually all $350 million to hundreds of election officials across the country.