Missouri legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Missouri HB1986: Repeals the election offense of allowing a ballot to be seen
Status: In committee, May 15, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text:
SECOND REGULAR SESSION HOUSE BILL NO. 1986 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE COOK. 4826H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk To repeal section 115.637, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to election offenses, with penalty provisions. Section A. Section 115.637, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 115.637, to read as follows: 115.637. The following offenses, and any others specifically so described by law, shall be class four election offenses and are deemed misdemeanors not connected with the exercise of the right of suffrage. Conviction for any of these offenses shall be punished by imprisonment of not more than one year or by a fine of not more than two thousand five hundred dollars or by both such imprisonment and fine: (1) Stealing or willfully concealing, defacing, mutilating, or destroying any sample ballots that may be furnished by an organization or individual at or near any voting place on election day, except that this subdivision shall not be construed so as to interfere with the right of an individual voter to erase or cause to be erased on a sample ballot the name of any candidate and substituting the name of the person for whom he or she intends to vote; or to dispose of the received …
Sponsors
- Bennie Cook (R, 143) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Referred: Emerging Issues(H)
- : Read Second Time (H)
- : Read First Time (H)
- : Prefiled (H)
Common questions
- What is HB1986?
- HB1986 is a bill in the Missouri Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Repeals the election offense of allowing a ballot to be seen.
- What is the status of HB1986?
- In committee as of May 15, 2026. Latest action: Referred: Emerging Issues(H) (May 15, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1986?
- Bennie Cook (R, 143).
- Where is the official record for HB1986?
- On the Missouri Legislature website: https://house.mo.gov/BillContent.aspx?bill=HB1986&year=2026&code=R
Source: official Missouri record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.