MO HB2180

Protects petition signatures from invalidation due to mistakes by circulators, proponents, or government officials, provided the signer's intent is reasonably clear.

Establishes new criminal penalties for fraudulent petition gathering, including causing voters to sign unintended petitions or forging signatures, punishable by up to one year imprisonment and/or fines up to $10,000.

Creates new crime of "malicious obstruction of the signing of a petition" for intimidating or preventing voters from signing, with same penalties, but excludes reasonable efforts to inform or educate potential signers.

Requires petition circulators to register with the secretary of state and submit affidavits under oath before a notary public; allows signatures from unregistered circulators to be counted if authenticity is proven within 30 days of the sufficiency certificate.

Modifies ballot title challenge procedures to establish 55-day deadlines for court decisions and allows changes to ballot titles after the 10-day challenge period to have no effect on signatures already collected under the original title.