A proposal by a Missouri senator running for the state’s top election post would create a new office charged with investigating claims of election fraud.

The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, would create the Office of Election Crimes and Security, a new division within the secretary of state’s office that would be tasked with overseeing and conducting investigations into alleged violations of election laws.

The measure would create a minimum of three new positions — a director and at least two investigators — in addition to a voter fraud hotline.

During a recent public hearing in the Senate Local Government and Elections Committee, Hoskins said his vision for the new office would resemble an “audit task force.”

“If there was anything that they saw (that was) nefarious, whether it’s before the election, on election day or after the election, they could immediately go and investigate,” Hoskins said.

The proposal would require the new office to submit an annual report to the governor and leaders of both the House and Senate before Jan. 15, detailing investigations of alleged violations that occurred during the previous calendar year. It would also provide the attorney general statewide authority to investigate any voter fraud allegations.

The attorney general would have concurrent jurisdiction along with local prosecuting authorities, according to the proposal.

Sharon Geuea Jones, a lobbyist representing the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, said that part of the bill is giving her pause.

“We feel that criminal violations should always start with the local prosecutor’s office,” Jones said. “Those offices are elected by their local constituencies to do that work.”

Others testifying in opposition to the bill said the new office proposed by Hoskins would be better served if it was housed in an independent, nonpartisan environment. Missouri’s secretary of state office is headed by political figures that are elected statewide.

“I know election integrity has been a big topic of conversation,” Hoskins said. “And many times we hear ‘Hey, there’s no election fraud in Missouri.’ Well, I’m here to give just a few examples.”

Hoskins, who filed Feb. 27 to run for secretary of state, cited data from the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank based in the District of Columbia, regarding instances of election fraud in Missouri.

He mentioned three cases, including one involving Danny Williams, a Boone County resident who pleaded guilty to three counts of forgery after falsifying 114 signatures on 40 ballot petitions in 2014.

A possible challenge to Hoskins’ proposal is the Missouri Elections Integrity Unit, a division within the secretary of state’s office allowing individuals to file a complaint regarding allegations of election fraud. The division bears similarities to Hoskins’ proposal.

Deputy Secretary of State Trish Vincent said the division isn’t putting out an annual report but added records related to election fraud investigations are subject to Missouri’s Sunshine Law and that people request them all the time.
“The way we have it now, we are able to do what’s necessary,” Vincent said, adding that the division investigates every complaint they get.
Hoskins, who is term-limited, is among at least five other Republicans who are either running or have expressed their intent to run for Missouri secretary of state.