Most Jefferson City lawmakers and other officials of both parties support more convenient voting laws, which seven of the eight states that border Missouri, including Kansas, already have.

In Missouri, you must go to your polling place on Election Day to vote, unless you vote absentee. It will take enactment of a new law to change that, and there are several bills in the hopper that would accomplish that purpose.

Kind of a dark horse bill that might emerge from the pack was introduced by state Sen. Jolie Justus, a Kansas City Democrat. The Justus bill, Senate Bill 95, would authorize any registered voter to vote absentee for any reason. It has been referred to as the “no excuse” absentee voting bill.

There is another voting bill pending in the Senate. It was introduced by Sen. Matt Bartle, a Lee’s Summit Republican. Bartle’s bill, SB 523, contains two key provisions: One would provide for one week of advance voting prior to an election. The bill also requires that voters produce a photo ID, a point of contention between the two parties in Missouri.

Bartle could not immediately be reached for comment. Neither could Sen. Delbert Scott, a Lowry City Republican who is chair of the Senate Financial and Elections Committee. Scott’s committee has not heard testimony on either the Justus or Bartle bills.

“We’re still pushing for it but we just haven’t gotten a hearing yet, “ Justus said this week. “I think my bill would be a good compromise because it would allow for early voting without the added expense. My bill provides for absentee voting for any reason at all.”

On the House side, the Elections Committee, chaired by Rep. Bill Deeken, a Jefferson City Republican, held a hearing this week on an early voting bill introduced by state Rep. Mike Corcoran, a St. Ann Democrat.

According to an Associated Press story, much of the testimony and discussion in the House Elections Committee hearing centered on the cost to the state and to local election authorities of implementing early voting. It was generally agreed that budgets are tight.

Chairman Deeken told KCTribune after the hearing that early voting would cost $5 million a year to pay for, “and with the economy the way it is now, we can’t afford it.”

Deeken added that, “The county clerks don’t want the state to say we don’t have the money. They’re not interested until the state agrees to pay for it.”

Deeken said, however, he liked features of the Justus absentee voting bill, even though it is a Senate, not a House bill.

“I could more likely go with that then the other one (early voting),” Deeken said. “I could pick no excuse absentee voting. “

Michael Brown, a Hickman Mills Democrat, told KCTribune, “Maybe I’ll get him (Deeken) a bill. We might make this happen. We might make this happen. We’ll go down to Chairman Deeken and see what his thoughts are, see if we can get a hearing.

“Jolie Justus and I have worked together before,” Brown continued. :”Her district is right next to mine. I’ll check with her first and see if we can get a complimentary version for the House.”

The Missouri Legislature will be in session until 6 p.m. May 15, when the session will adjourn.