Missouri SB 569 passed the Senate Finance, Government Organization & Elections Committee on April 15. It makes it easier to qualify initiative petitions. It says that if a registered voter signs an initiative, the signature counts, regardless of any problems involved because the circulator was a person not entitled to be a circulator (Missouri does not permit out-of-state circulators for petitions for new parties).

The philosophy behind this bill is sound, and ought to be embraced by all states. If the signer is entitled to sign a petition, that signature should count, regardless of any characteristics of the circulator. By analogy, votes cast by legally qualified voters ought to count as well, no matter what errors are made by officials at the polling place.

Approximately 10 states don’t even require that petition circulators sign the bottom of the petition, or otherwise identify themselves, and those 10 states seem to have no trouble with that permissive policy.

The Missouri bill makes other changes also, such as legalizing a signature even if the voter signed a petition sheet meant for residents of some other county. However, the petition must clearly indicate the signer’s county of residence. SB 569 is sponsored by Senator Jim Lembke (R-St. Louis). Unfortunately the protections in the bill do not also apply to candidate petitions, or petitions to establish a new party. Thanks to Ken Bush for this news.

Other Missouri bills that affect minor parties, independent candidates, or the initiative process, have not made any headway. They include the bill to delete the requirement that a petition to qualify a minor party must include the party’s presidential elector candidates, and the bill to move the independent candidate petition deadline from July to March, and the bills to outlaw paying initiative circulators on a per signature basis, and bills to lower the number of signatures needed for statewide initiatives.