Protecting Elections from Non-U.S. Citizens

On Monday afternoon, the Senate Local Government, Elections, and Pensions Committee met to hear SB 62, sponsored by Sen. Ben Brown (R-Washington), a bill modifying provisions relating to elections. The bill requires documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote. SB 62 requires the Secretary of State and election authorities to perform system maintenance on a quarterly basis. Also, the clerk of each circuit court in Missouri is required to prepare and transmit monthly to the Secretary of State a complete list of all persons who identify themselves as not being U.S. citizens when called to jury duty. If an election authority determines that a person, who is not eligible to vote, did register to vote or did vote in an election, the election authority shall execute and deliver to the Attorney General, Secretary of State, and the relevant prosecuting or circuit attorney an affidavit stating the relevant facts. If the Secretary of State finds that reasonable grounds appear that the alleged election offense was committed, the Secretary of State may issue a probable cause statement and refer the offense to the Attorney General (currently to the appropriate prosecuting attorney). Organizations testifying in support of SB 62 included Americans for Citizen Voting, Heritage Action for America, Secure Election Project Liberty Link Missouri, Gasconade County Republican Club, and the Secretary of State’s legislative director, Amanda Bell. Testifying in opposition were Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, Secure Democracy, League of Women Voters of Missouri, ACLU of Missouri, and Missouri National Education Association. Information only testimony was presented by Directors of Elections for St. Louis County and St. Charles County. The committee took no action on the bill.