Mo. bill tightens criteria for election recounts

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Losing political candidates could find it harder to get a recount under legislation sent to Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon.

A bill given final approval Tuesday would tighten the margin of defeat necessary to trigger a recount in Missouri elections. Under current law, a candidate who loses by less than 1 percent can seek a recount. The legislation would require a margin of less than one-half of a percent to request a recount.

The legislation also includes an amendment that seeks to reinstate local taxes on vehicles bought from out-of-state dealers or in person-to-person sales. Similar wording has been included in other bills sent to the governor. Lawmakers are trying to get around a 2012 state Supreme Court ruling that invalidated some of the local vehicle taxes.

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Election bill is SB99.

Online:

Legislature: http://www.moga.mo.gov