MISSOURI LAWMAKERS WEIGH RESTORING SECRETARY OF STATE'S INVESTIGATION AND SUBPOENA POWER IN ELECTION CASES
At the Missouri Capitol, lawmakers are debating a State House bill that would restore the Secretary of State’s investigative and subpoena powers for election fraud cases — a tool the office lost when it expired last August.
Representative Brad Banderman, R-St. Clair, is the bill’s sponsor. He said no matter which party holds the office, the Secretary of State should have this power.
“This is very important to create a transparent legal process within our state,” said Banderman. “And if there’s a credible complaint, the Secretary of State’s Office, no matter who that might be, no matter what party, should have the ability to get the information when they feel like the complaint is credible. If it’s frivolous, they shouldn’t pursue it. And we have guardrails on what frivolous is.”
But David Tyson Smith, D-Columbia, said he doesn’t support restoring it.
https://www.missourinet.com/2026/01/27/missouri-lawmakers-weigh-restoring-secretary-of-states-investigation-and-subpoena-power-in-election-cases/