The Missouri legislature adjourned on May 18. Two bills to make ballot access more difficult failed to pass.

HB 1285 would have increased the number of signatures for statewide independent candidates from 10,000 signatures to 2% of the last vote cast, which would have been greater than 110,000 signatures. The sponsors were Representative Pat Conway (D-St. Joseph) and Dan Stacy (R-Blue Springs). The bill had passed committee in the House but made no further progress.

HB 1232 would have banned “sore losers”. It was sponsored by Representative Stacy. It also had passed committee in the house, but did not advance beyond that. Thanks to Ken Bush for this news.