Missouri Revised Statutes
Chapter 115
Election Authorities and Conduct of Elections
←115.235
Section 115.237.1
115.239→
August 28, 2015
Ballots, contents of--straight political party ticket voting prohibited--rulemaking authority.
115.237. 1. Each ballot printed or designed for use with an
electronic voting system for any election pursuant to this chapter shall
contain all questions and the names of all offices and candidates certified
or filed pursuant to this chapter and no other. As far as practicable, all
questions and the names of all offices and candidates for which each voter
is entitled to vote shall be printed on one page except for the ballot for
political party committee persons in polling places not utilizing an
electronic voting system which may be printed separately and in conformity
with the requirements contained in this section. As far as practicable,
ballots containing only questions and the names of nonpartisan offices and
candidates shall be printed in accordance with the provisions of this
section, except that the ballot information may be listed in vertical or
horizontal rows. The names of candidates for each office shall be listed
in the order in which they are filed.
2. In polling places using electronic voting systems, the ballot
information may be arranged in vertical or horizontal rows or on a number
of separate pages or screens. In any event, the name of each candidate,
the candidate's party, the office for which he or she is a candidate, and
each question shall be indicated clearly on the ballot.
3. Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed as prohibiting the
use of a separate paper ballot for questions or for the presidential
preference primary in any polling place using an electronic voting system.
4. Where electronic voting systems are used and when write-in votes
are authorized by law, a write-in ballot, which may be in the form of a
separate paper ballot, card, or envelope, may be provided by the election
authority to permit each voter to write in the names of persons whose names
do not appear on the ballot.
5. No ballot printed or designed for use with an electronic voting
system for any partisan election held under this chapter shall allow a
person to vote a straight political party ticket. For purposes of this
subsection, a "straight political party ticket" means voting for all of the
candidates for elective office who are on the ballot representing a single
political party by a single selection on the ballot.
6. The secretary of state shall promulgate rules that specify uniform
standards for ballot layout for each electronic or computerized ballot
counting system approved under the provisions of section 115.225 so that
the ballot used with any counting system is, where possible, consistent
with the intent of this section. Nothing in this section shall be
construed to require the format specified in this section if it does not
meet the requirements of the ballot counting system used by the election
authority.
7. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section
536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section
shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of
the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This
section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested
with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the
effective date or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held
unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule
proposed or adopted after August 28, 2002, shall be invalid and void.
(L. 1977 H.B. 101 § 8.101, A.L. 1979 S.B. 275, A.L. 1982 S.B. 526,
A.L. 2002 S.B. 675, A.L. 2006 S.B. 1014 & 730, A.L. 2014 H.B.
1136)
2006
2002
1991
2006
115.237. 1. Each ballot printed or designed for use with an electronic
voting system for any election pursuant to this chapter shall contain all
questions and the names of all offices and candidates certified or filed
pursuant to this chapter and no other. As far as practicable, all questions
and the names of all offices and candidates for which each voter is entitled
to vote shall be printed on one page except for the ballot for political party
committee persons in polling places not utilizing an electronic voting system
which may be printed separately and in conformity with the requirements
contained in this section. As far as practicable, ballots containing only
questions and the names of nonpartisan offices and candidates shall be printed
in accordance with the provisions of this section, except that the ballot
information may be listed in vertical or horizontal rows. The names of
candidates for each office shall be listed in the order in which they are
filed.
2. Except as provided in subsection 5 of this section, each ballot shall
have:
(1) Each party name printed in capital letters not less than eighteen
point in size;
(2) The name of each office printed in capital letters not less than
eight point in size;
(3) The name of each candidate printed in capital letters not less than
ten point in size;
(4) A small square, the sides of which shall not be less than one-fourth
inch in length, printed directly to the left of each candidate's name and on
the same line as the candidate's name. When write-in votes are authorized and
no candidate's name is to be printed under the name of an office in a party or
nonpartisan column, under the name of the office in the column shall be
printed a square. Directly to the right of the square shall be printed a
horizontal line on which the voter may vote for a person whose name does not
appear on the ballot. When more than one position is to be filled for an
office, and the number of candidates' names under the office in a column is
less than the number of positions to be filled, the number of squares and
write-in lines printed in the column shall equal the difference between the
number of candidates' names and the number of positions to be filled;
(5) The list of candidates of each party and all nonpartisan candidates
placed in separate columns with a heavy vertical line between each list;
(6) A horizontal line extending across the ballot three-eighths of an
inch below the last name or write-in line under each office in such a manner
that the names of all candidates and all write-in lines for the same office
appear between the same horizontal lines. If write-in votes are not
authorized, the horizontal line shall extend across the ballot three-eighths
of an inch below the name of the last candidate under each office;
(7) In a separate column or beneath a heavy horizontal line under all
names and write-in lines, all questions;
(8) At least three-eighths of an inch below all other matter on the
ballot, printed in ten-point Gothic type, the words "Instructions to Voters"
followed by directions to the voter on marking the ballot as provided in
section 115.439;
(9) Printed at the top on the face of the ballot the words "Official
Ballot" followed by the date of the election and the statement "Instruction to
Voters: Place an X in the square opposite the name of the person for whom you
wish to vote.".
3. As nearly as practicable, each ballot shall be in substantially the
following form:
OFFICIAL BALLOT DATE ........................
REPUBLICAN For President and Vice President ? ................... DEMOCRATIC
For President and Vice President
? ................... THIRD PARTY For President and Vice President ?
................ INDEPENDENT For President and Vice President ?
................. For United States Senator ? ................... For United
States Senator
? ................... ForUnited States Senator ? ................ For
United States Senator? ................. For Governor ? ...................
For Governor
? ................... For Governor ? ................ For Governor?
................. For Lieutenant Governor ? ................... For
Lieutenant Governor
? ................... For Lieutenant Governor ? ................ For
Lieutenant Governor? ................. For Secretary of State ?
................... For Secretary of State
? ................... For Secretary of State ? ................ For
Secretary of State ? ................. For Treasurer ? ...................
For Treasurer
? ................... For Treasurer ? ................ For Treasurer ?
................. For Attorney General ? ................... For Attorney
General
? ................... For Attorney General ? ................ For Attorney
General ? ................. For United States Representative ?
................... For United States Representative
? ................... For United States Representative ? ................
For United States Representative ? ................. For State Senator ?
................... For State Senator
? ................... For State Senator ? ................ For State
Senator ? ................. For State Representative ? ...................
For State Representative
? ................... For State Representative ? ................ For State
Representative ? ................. For Circuit Judge ? ...................
For Circuit Judge
? ................... For Circuit Judge ? ................ For Circuit
Judge ? .................
4. No ballot printed or designed for use with an electronic voting
system for any partisan election held under this chapter shall allow a person
to vote a straight political party ticket. For purposes of this subsection, a
"straight political party ticket" means voting for all of the candidates for
elective office who are on the ballot representing a single political party by
a single selection on the ballot.
5. The secretary of state shall promulgate rules that specify uniform
standards for ballot layout for each electronic or computerized ballot
counting system approved under the provisions of section 115.225 so that the
ballot used with any counting system is, where possible, consistent with the
intent of this section. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require
the format specified in this section if it does not meet the requirements of
the ballot counting system used by the election authority.
6. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section
536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall
become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the
provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This section
and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the
general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective
date or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional,
then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after
August 28, 2002, shall be invalid and void.
2002
115.237. 1. Each ballot printed or designed for use with an
electronic voting system for any election pursuant to this chapter shall
contain all questions and the names of all offices and candidates certified
or filed pursuant to this chapter and no other. As far as practicable, all
questions and the names of all offices and candidates for which each voter
is entitled to vote shall be printed on one page except for the ballot for
political party committee persons in polling places not utilizing an
electronic voting system which may be printed separately and in conformity
with the requirements contained in this section. As far as practicable,
ballots containing only questions and the names of nonpartisan offices and
candidates shall be printed in accordance with the provisions of this
section, except that the ballot information may be listed in vertical or
horizontal rows. The names of candidates for each office shall be listed
in the order in which they are filed.
2. Except as provided in subsection 4 of this section, each ballot
shall have:
(1) Each party name printed in capital letters not less than eighteen
point in size;
(2) A circle one-half inch in diameter immediately below each party
name;
(3) The name of each office printed in capital letters not less than
eight point in size;
(4) The name of each candidate printed in capital letters not less
than ten point in size;
(5) A small square, the sides of which shall not be less than
one-fourth inch in length, printed directly to the left of each candidate's
name and on the same line as the candidate's name. When write-in votes are
authorized and no candidate's name is to be printed under the name of an
office in a party or nonpartisan column, under the name of the office in
the column shall be printed a square. Directly to the right of the square
shall be printed a horizontal line on which the voter may vote for a person
whose name does not appear on the ballot. When more than one position is
to be filled for an office, and the number of candidates' names under the
office in a column is less than the number of positions to be filled, the
number of squares and write-in lines printed in the column shall equal the
difference between the number of candidates' names and the number of
positions to be filled;
(6) The list of candidates of each party and all nonpartisan
candidates placed in separate columns with a heavy vertical line between
each list;
(7) A horizontal line extending across the ballot three-eighths of an
inch below the last name or write-in line under each office in such a
manner that the names of all candidates and all write-in lines for the same
office appear between the same horizontal lines. If write-in votes are not
authorized, the horizontal line shall extend across the ballot
three-eighths of an inch below the name of the last candidate under each
office;
(8) In a separate column or beneath a heavy horizontal line under all
names and write-in lines, all questions;
(9) At least three-eighths of an inch below all other matter on the
ballot, printed in ten-point Gothic type, the words "Instructions to
Voters" followed by directions to the voter on marking the ballot as
provided in section 115.439;
(10) Printed at the top on the face of the ballot the words "Official
Ballot" followed by the date of the election and the statement "Instruction
to Voters: Place an X in the square opposite the name of the person for
whom you wish to vote.".
3. As nearly as practicable, each ballot shall be in substantially
the following form:
OFFICIAL BALLOT DATE .....................
REPUBLICAN
For President
and
Vice President
..........
DEMOCRATIC
For President
and
Vice President
..........
THIRD PARTY
For President
and
Vice President
..........
INDEPENDENT
For President
and
Vice President
..........
For
United States
Senator
..........
For
United States
Senator
..........
For
United States
Senator
..........
For
United States
Senator
..........
For Governor
..........
For Governor
..........
For Governor
..........
For Governor
..........
For Lieutenant
Governor
..........
For Lieutenant
Governor
..........
For Lieutenant
Governor
..........
For Lieutenant
Governor
..........
For Secretary
of State
..........
For Secretary
of State
..........
For Secretary
of State
..........
For Secretary
of State
..........
For Treasurer
..........
For Treasurer
..........
For Treasurer
..........
For Treasurer
..........
For Attorney
General
..........
For Attorney
General
..........
For Attorney
General
..........
For Attorney
General
..........
For
United States
Representative
..........
For
United States
Representative
..........
For
United States
Representative
..........
For
United States
Representative
..........
For State
Senator
..........
For State
Senator
..........
For State
Senator
..........
For State
Senator
..........
For State
Representative
..........
For State
Representative
..........
For State
Representative
..........
For State
Representative
..........
For Circuit
Judge
..........
For Circuit
Judge
..........
For Circuit
Judge
..........
For Circuit
Judge
..........
4. The secretary of state shall promulgate rules that specify uniform
standards for ballot layout for each electronic or computerized ballot
counting system approved under the provisions of section* 115.225 so that
the ballot used with any counting system is, where possible, consistent
with the intent of this section. Nothing in this section shall be
construed to require the format specified in this section if it does not
meet the requirements of the ballot counting system used by the election
authority.
5. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section
536.010, RSMo, that is created under the authority delegated in this
section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to
all of the provisions of chapter 536, RSMo, and, if applicable, section
536.028, RSMo. This section and chapter 536, RSMo, are nonseverable and if
any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536,
RSMo, to review, to delay the effective date or to disapprove and annul a
rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking
authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2002, shall be
invalid and void.
1991
115.237. 1. Each ballot printed for any election under the provisions
of sections 115.001 to 115.641 shall contain all questions and the names of
all offices and candidates certified or filed pursuant to sections 115.001 to
115.641 and no other. As far as practicable, all questions and the names of
all offices and candidates for which each voter is entitled to vote shall be
printed on one page except for the ballot for political party committee
persons in polling places not utilizing an electronic voting system which may
be printed separately and in conformity with the requirements contained in
this section. As far as practicable, ballots containing only questions and
the names of nonpartisan offices and candidates shall be printed in accordance
with the provisions of this section, except that the ballot information may be
listed in vertical or horizontal rows. The names of candidates for each
office shall be listed in the order in which they are filed.
2. Each ballot shall be plain paper, through which printing or writing
cannot be read, and shall have:
(1) Each party name printed in capital letters not less than eighteen
point in size;
(2) A circle one-half inch in diameter immediately below each party
name;
(3) The name of each office printed in capital letters not less than
eight point in size;
(4) The name of each candidate printed in capital letters not less than
ten point in size;
(5) A small square, the sides of which shall not be less than one-fourth
inch in length, printed directly to the left of each candidate's name and on
the same line as the candidate's name. When write-in votes are authorized and
no candidate's name is to be printed under the name of an office in a party or
nonpartisan column, under the name of the office in the column shall be
printed a square. Directly to the right of the square shall be printed a
horizontal line on which the voter may vote for a person whose name does not
appear on the ballot. When more than one position is to be filled for an
office, and the number of candidates' names under the office in a column is
less than the number of positions to be filled, the number of squares and
write-in lines printed in the column shall equal the difference between the
number of candidates' names and the number of positions to be filled;
(6) The list of candidates of each party and all nonpartisan candidates
placed in separate columns with a heavy vertical line between each list;
(7) A horizontal line extending across the ballot three-eighths of an
inch below the last name or write-in line under each office in such a manner
that the names of all candidates and all write-in lines for the same office
appear between the same horizontal lines. If write-in votes are not
authorized, the horizontal line shall extend across the ballot three-eighths
of an inch below the name of the last candidate under each office;
(8) In a separate column or beneath a heavy horizontal line under all
names and write-in lines, all questions;
(9) At least three-eighths of an inch below all other matter on the
ballot, printed in ten point Gothic type, the words "Instructions to Voters"
followed by directions to the voter on marking his ballot as provided in
section 115.439;
(10) Printed at the top on the face of the ballot the words "Official
Ballot" followed by the date of the election and the statement "Instruction to
Voters: Place an X in the square opposite the name of the person for whom you
wish to vote."
3. As nearly as practicable, each ballot shall be in substantially the
following form: OFFICIAL BALLOT DATE .....................
REPUBLICAN DEMOCRATIC THIRD PARTY INDEPENDENT
O O O O
For President For President For President For President
and and and and
Vice President Vice President Vice President Vice President
..... ..... ..... .....
For For For For
United States United States United States United States
Senator Senator Senator Senator
..... ..... ..... .....
For Governor For Governor For Governor For Governor
..... ..... ..... .....
For Lieutenant For Lieutenant For Lieutenant For Lieutenant
Governor Governor Governor Governor
..... ..... ..... .....
For Secretary For Secretary For Secretary For Secretary
of State of State of State of State
..... ..... ..... .....
For Treasurer For Treasurer For Treasurer For Treasurer
..... ..... ..... .....
For Attorney For Attorney For Attorney For Attorney
General General General General
..... ..... ..... .....
For For For For
United States United States United States United States Representative
Representative Representative Representative
..... ..... ..... .....
For State For State For State For State
Senator Senator Senator Senator
..... ..... ..... .....
For State For State For State For State
Representative Representative Representative Representative
..... ..... ..... .....
For Circuit For Circuit For Circuit For Circuit
Judge Judge Judge Judge
..... ..... ..... .....
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