Requires schools to allow students to leave school to vote
Summary
HB 102 creates a new section in Chapter 115, Missouri’s election law chapter, to guarantee eligible student voters time off from school to vote on Election Day. A student entitled to vote may be absent from school for up to three hours between the opening and closing of the polls, and that absence must be treated as excused if the student requests leave before Election Day. The school may choose which three-hour window the student may use, and a student who votes may not be penalized or disciplined for the absence.
The bill also requires school districts to adopt a written policy on these excused absences beginning with the 2025-26 school year, and directs the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop a model policy for districts to use. In addition to the student right, the bill makes it a class four election offense for a school official to violate the section, adding an enforcement mechanism to the new voting access requirement.
Impact
HB 102 would add a new election-related obligation for Missouri school districts and school officials by creating an excused absence right for eligible student voters on Election Day. It would affect school attendance policies, require district-level written procedures, and give DESE a role in issuing a model policy. The bill would also expand the state’s election offense provisions by attaching criminal-style penalties to noncompliance by school officials.
Sentiment
Based on the bill’s caption and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes in the provided materials, the measure appears to be framed as a pro-voting access bill aimed at making it easier for students to participate in elections. The text suggests a generally supportive policy rationale centered on civic participation and protecting students from school-related penalties for voting. No recorded opposition, amendments, or vote history is included here to indicate broader sentiment.
Contention
The main points of potential contention are the balance between student voting access and school operational control, and the enforcement mechanism imposed on school officials. Schools may be concerned about attendance administration, scheduling, and compliance burdens, especially because districts must adopt policies and align them with a model policy by the 2025-26 school year. Another possible issue is the class four election offense penalty, which could be viewed as a strong sanction for school personnel if implementation is unclear or if requests for leave are not handled consistently.