By CHRIS BLANK
Associated Press
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- An early voting measure Missouri lawmakers endorsed Wednesday could wind up competing on the ballot with a more expansive version proposed through a petition drive.
The constitutional amendment passed by the Legislature would allow ballots to be cast on six business days ending the Wednesday before an election. In-person ballots would be cast during the regular business hours of local election officials, who would be barred from activities or incurring expenses for early voting unless funding is included in the state budget. The measure states its provisions could not be repealed or invalidated by another constitutional amendment unless that measure specifically references them.
The Legislature's approval means it will appear on the November ballot unless Gov. Jay Nixon sets a different election date.
"It gives voters the ability to cast an informed decision, and at the same time, gives them the flexibility to cast a vote before Election Day," said sponsoring Rep. Tony Dugger, R-Hartville.
Democratic critics contend the Legislature's proposal is too narrow. Rep. Randy Dunn called it a "sham."
"This is not real early voting," said Dunn, of Kansas City.
The other early voting proposal possibly headed for this fall's ballot would permit a six-week early voting period and require officials to accommodate early voting on Saturdays and Sundays for the final 21 days before federal or state elections. Supporters said they gathered about 300,000 signatures to get the measure on the November ballot, and a former chief of staff for Attorney General Chris Koster is the campaign treasurer.
House members approved the narrower proposal 92-57 on Wednesday. Earlier this week, the Senate passed it 22-8.
State law says if conflicting constitutional amendments pass at the same election, the measure receiving the largest affirmative vote takes effect.
Missouri residents currently can cast absentee ballots under limited circumstances, such as if they will be out-of-town on Election Day. Lawmakers referred a two-part constitutional amendment to the 2012 ballot to authorize voter photo ID and early voting laws, but a judge struck down legislators' summary of the measure.
Initiative petitions in previous years have prompted action by Missouri lawmakers.
After voters passed new requirements for dog-breeders in 2010, the Legislature revamped it the following year. In 1994, the Democratic-controlled Missouri Legislature approved campaign finance legislation. Two organizations were circulating petitions on the topic.
Lawmakers limited contributions to $250 for House races, $500 for the Senate and $1,000 for statewide candidates with adjustments for inflation. One initiative group dropped its plans when the Legislature acted, but another organization continued. Voters approved tighter limits of $100 for the House, $200 for the Senate and $300 for governor. The voter-imposed limits were overturned in court, but the U.S. Supreme Court ultimately upheld those from the Legislature.
Lawmakers since have repealed Missouri's campaign finance limits.
Early voting is HJR90
Link: Missouri Legislature at http://www.moga.mo.gov
Missouri House roll call on early voting measure
By The Associated Press
The 92-57 vote Wednesday by which the Missouri House passed a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow any early voting period before elections.
Voting "yes" were 92 Republicans.
Voting "no" were eight Republicans and 49 Democrats.
Not voting were eight Republicans and two Democrats.
REPUBLICANS VOTING YES
Sue Allen, Town and Country
Sonya Anderson, Springfield
Kevin Austin, Springfield
Kurt Bahr, O'Fallon
Jay Barnes, Jefferson City
Mike Bernskoetter, Jefferson City
T.J. Berry, Kearney
Rick Brattin, Harrisonville
Wanda Brown, Cole Camp
Eric Burlison, Springfield
Mike Cierpiot, Lee's Summit
Kathie Conway, St. Charles
Steve Cookson, Poplar Bluff
Robert Cornejo, St. Peters
Sandy Crawford, Buffalo
Gary Cross, Lee's Summit
Charlie Davis, Webb City
John Diehl, Town and Country
Dean Dohrman, LaMonte
Tony Dugger, Hartville
Kevin Elmer, Nixa
Kevin Engler, Farmington
Sue Entlicher, Bolivar
Scott Fitzpatrick, Shell Knob
Paul Fitzwater, Potosi
Tom Flanigan, Carthage
Lyndall Fraker, Marshfield
Diane Franklin, Camdenton
Keith Frederick, Rolla
Elaine Gannon, De Soto
Chuck Gatschenberger, Lake St. Louis
Don Gosen, Ballwin
Jeff Grisamore, Lee's Summit
Casey Guernsey, Bethany
Elijah Haahr, Springfield
Marsha Haefner, Oakville
Kent Hampton, Malden
Jim Hansen, Frankford
Ron Hicks, St. Peters
Dave Hinson, St. Clair
Denny Hoskins, Warrensburg
Lincoln Hough, Springfield
Jay Houghton, Martinsburg
Delus Johnson, St. Joseph
Caleb Jones, Columbia
Jeffery Justus, Branson
Shelley Keeney, Marble Hill
Andrew Koenig, Manchester
Glen Kolkmeyer, Wellington
Bart Korman, High Hill
Mike Lair, Chillicothe
Jeanie Lauer, Blue Springs
Mike Leara, St. Louis County
Donna Lichtenegger, Jackson
Warren Love, Osceola
Steve Lynch, Waynesville
Joe Don McGaugh, Carrollton
Jeffrey Messenger, Republic
Rocky Miller, Osage Beach
Lynn Morris, Ozark
Jim Neely, Cameron
Myron Neth, Liberty
Mark Parkinson, St. Charles
Donna Pfautsch, Harrisonville
Don Phillips, Kimberling City
Randy Pike, Adrian
Craig Redmon, Canton
Holly Rehder, Sikeston
Bill Rieboldt, Neosho
Tim Remole, Excello
Shawn Rhoads, West Plains
Todd Richardson, Poplar Bluff
Jeanie Riddle, Mokane
Robert Ross, Yukon
Caleb Rowden, Columbia
Lyle Rowland, Cedarcreek
Dave Schatz, Sullivan
Ron Schieber, Kansas City
Noel Shull, Kansas City
Lindell Shumake, Hannibal
Sheila Solon, Blue Springs
Chrissy Sommer, St. Charles
Bryan Spencer, Wentzville
Rick Stream, Kirkwood
Kathy Swan, Cape Girardeau
Mike Thomson, Maryville
Noel Torpey, Independence
Nate Walker, Kirksville
Paul Wieland, Imperial
David Wood, Versailles
Anne Zerr, St. Charles
Tim Jones, Eureka
REPUBLICANS VOTING NO
Paul Curtman, Pacific
Galen Higdon, St. Joseph
Tom Hurst, Meta
Nick Marshall, Parkville
John McCaherty, High Ridge
Mike Moon, Ash Grove
Jeff Pogue, Salem
Kenneth Wilson, Smithville
DEMOCRATS VOTING NO
Ira Anders, Independence
Linda Black, Desloge
Bob Burns, Affton
Michael Butler, St. Louis
Jon Carpenter, Gladstone
Mike Colona, St. Louis
Pat Conway, St. Joseph
Courtney Curtis, Berkeley
Randy Dunn, Kansas City
Brandon Ellington, Kansas City
Keith English, Florissant
Vicki Englund, St. Louis County
Michael Frame, Eureka
Kimberly Gardner, St. Louis
Ben Harris, Hillsboro
Penny Hubbard, St. Louis
Jacob Hummel, St. Louis
Chris Kelly, Columbia
Jeanne Kirkton, Webster Groves
Michele Kratky, St. Louis
Jeremy LaFaver, Kansas City
Karla May, St. Louis
John Mayfield, Independence
Gail McCann Beatty, Kansas City
Tom McDonald, Raytown
TJ McKenna, Festus
Kevin McManus, Kansas City
Margo McNeil, Hazelwood
Sue Meredith, St. Louis County
Bonnaye Mims, Kansas City
Gina Mitten, Richmond Heights
Genise Montecillo, St. Louis County
Judy Morgan, Kansas City
Mary Nichols, Maryland Heights
Charlie Norr, Springfield
Bill Otto, Maryland Heights
Sharon Pace, Northwoods
Josh Peters, St. Louis
Tommie Pierson, Bellefontaine Neighbors
John Rizzo, Kansas City
Jeff Roorda, Barnhart
Joe Runions, Grandview
Ed Schieffer, Troy
Jill Schupp, Creve Coeur
Clem Smith, Velda Village Hills
Jay Swearingen, North Kansas City
Rochelle Walton Gray, Black Jack
Stephen Webber, Columbia
John Wright, Rocheport
REPUBLICANS NOT VOTING
Stanley Cox, Sedalia
Doug Funderburk, St. Peters
Mike Kelley, Lamar
Bill Lant, Pineville
Chris Molendorp, Belton
Dave Muntzel, Boonville
Dwight Scharnhorst, Valley Park
Bill White, Joplin
DEMOCRATS NOT VOTING
Steve Hodges, East Prairie
Stacey Newman, Richmond Heights