Initiative, Referendum, New Party, and Independent Candidate Petitions Missouri Voter Registration System and Other Computerized Processing Options

PURPOSE: The purpose of this rule is to clarify that local election authorities have the option to use the centralized Missouri Voter Registration System (MCVR) or a petition processing software program provided and maintained by the Office of the Secretary of State for initiative, referendum, new party, and independent candidate petition signature verification as allowed under Chapters 115 and 116, RSMo. MCVR is the official statewide voter registration list which was created and implemented as part of the Help America Vote Act of 2002. This system is maintained and administered by the Office of the Secretary of State and contains the name and registration information of every legally registered Missouri voter. It serves as the official voter registration list for the conduct of all elections in Missouri and allows local election authorities immediate real-time electronic access to the information contained in the system. Currently, local election authorities may use this system for petition signature verification as authorized by Chapter 115, RSMo. The secretary of state may make rules to ensure uniform, complete, and accurate checking of initiative and referendum petition signatures. (1) Each local election authority has the option for local petitions to comply with the requirements of 15 CSR 30-15.010 and 15 CSR 30-15.020 through the centralized Missouri Voter Registration System (MCVR). (2) Each local election authority may comply with the requirements of 15 CSR 30-15.010 and 15 CSR 30-15.020 for statewide petitions, referendums, new party, and independent candidates filed with the secretary of state office through a petition processing software program maintained and administered by the secretary of state. Petition pages will be processed and annotated electronically. Each local election authority shall certify to the secretary of state by means of petition processing summary reports generated by the software program provided by the secretary of state the total of each category enumerated in 15 CSR 30-15.020(1) less the number of duplicate, but otherwise qualified, signatures in 15 CSR 30-15.020(2). AUTHORITY: section 115.335.7, RSMo Supp. 2023, and section 116.130.5, RSMo 2016.* Original rule filed Aug. 14, 2013, effective Feb. 28, 2014. Amended: Filed Jan. 31, 2020, effective July 30, 2020. Amended: Filed Nov. 29, 2023, effective June 30, 2024. *Original authority: 115.335.7, RSMo 1977, amended 1993, 1995, 2018, and 116.130, RSMo 1980, amended 1988, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2003.