115.193. Name stricken from register, conditions--notice, method, contents--improper removal from records, may be permitted to vote--inactive voter designation.
Name stricken from register, conditions--notice, method,contents--improper removal from records, may be permitted tovote--inactive voter designation.
115.193. 1. Upon completion of a canvass as provided for in thischapter, a registered voter's name shall not be removed from the list ofregistered voters on the ground that the voter has changed residence unless:
(1) The voter confirms in writing that the voter has changed residenceto a place outside the election authority's jurisdiction in which the voter isregistered; or
(2) The voter fails to respond to a notice described in this section andhas not voted in an election during the period beginning on the date of thenotice and ending on the day after the date of the second general electionthat occurs after the date of the notice.
2. The notice referred to in subsection 1, subdivision (2) of thissection shall contain a postage prepaid and preaddressed return card, sent byforwardable mail, on which the voter may state the voter's current address.
3. The notice shall also contain the following statements:
"(1) Any voter who has not changed his or her residence, or has changedresidence but remained in the same election authority's jurisdiction, shallreturn the card not later than the fourth Wednesday prior to the nextelection. If the card is not returned by this date, oral or writtenaffirmation of the voter's address may be required at the polling place beforethe voter will be permitted to vote in an election during the period beginningon the date of the notice and ending on the day after the date of the secondgeneral election that occurs after the date of the notice. Any voter who doesnot vote in an election during that period, will have his or her name removedfrom the list of eligible voters;"
"(2) For additional information on registering to vote, contact theelection authority located in the county of your current residence. If youreside in the city of St. Louis, contact the St. Louis City election board."
4. If the election authority believes that the name of any voter wasimproperly removed from the registration records, it may, by telephone or inwriting on election day, authorize election judges to permit the voter tovote. The voter may be required to execute an affidavit of qualification on aform prescribed by the election authority before being permitted to vote.
5. An election authority may designate any voter as an inactive voter ifthe election authority receives from the United States Postal Servicenotification that the voter no longer resides at the address last known to theelection authority and no forwarding address is available, or the voter failsto respond to the notice authorized in subdivision (2) of subsection 1 of thissection within thirty days after the election authority sends such notice.Such voter may be designated as an inactive voter only until:
(1) The voter returns such notice to the election authority;
(2) The voter provides the election authority with his or her newaddress pursuant to the provisions of this chapter;
(3) The voter provides a written affirmation that the voter has notchanged residence; or
(4) The election authority receives sufficient information to remove thevoter from the list of registered voters pursuant to this section or section115.165, or return the voter to the active list of registered voters in thejurisdiction.
6. An election authority may exclude inactive voters to determine only:
(1) The number of ballots to be printed pursuant to section 115.247;
(2) The proportional costs of elections; or
(3) Mailing information to registered voters.
(L. 1977 H.B. 101 § 7.335, A.L. 1982 S.B. 526, A.L. 1994 H.B. 1411, A.L. 1997 S.B. 132)