Missouri Representative Jill Schupp (D-Creve Coeur) has introduced HB 796, to correct a wording error in the state’s ballot access reform bill of 1993. The intent of the 1993 reform was to let groups circulate a petition to become recognized as a political party before that group had chosen its candidates. But due to a drafting error, the 1993 bill continued to require such groups to list candidates for presidential elector on their petition, and also to list candidates for president and vice-president on the petition, even though the group didn’t need to list any of its nominees for other office.

HB 796 corrects that error. Similar bills have been introduced in many past sessions of the legislature, but didn’t pass. No legislator ever expressed opposition to the idea of correcting the error, but many bills die in Missouri because the legislature doesn’t take the time to pay attention to them. Also, sometimes an innocuous election law bill like this one gets amended to include other, more controversial, election law bills, and then the entire bill gets defeated. Thanks to Ken Bush, who is responsible for getting this bill introduced. Bush is the talented volunteer lobbyist who got the 1993 bill passed. HB 796 has five co-sponsors.