A St. Joseph Democratic lawmaker continues to push ahead with attempted reforms to the state’s method of absentee balloting. Rep. Pat Conway has filed only one bill for the 2015 legislative session: a measure that would allow registered voters eligible to vote in a particular election to do so by absentee ballot without needing to provide a reason. Mr. Conway’s proposal seeks to repeal the state’s requirement of asking a registered voter who applies for an absentee ballot to submit a reason for voting absentee. However, the application would have to state whether the voter is incapacitated or confined due to an illness, physical disability, or is someone who is primarily responsible for the physical care of an incapacitated or confined person.
The House Elections Committee met for a public hearing Tuesday morning on the bill. Mr. Conway is the lone Democrat in Northwest Missouri’s statehouse delegation and is joined on the committee by two other party members and nine Republicans.
“It went real well,” Mr. Conway said of the 40-minute hearing. “They listened to the testimony. The chairlady decided not to take a vote on it.”
There was no indication on when the committee may vote.
Full Article: Conway pursues absentee voting changes – St. Joseph News-Press and FOX 26 KNPN: Local News.