s_sa_2016a_2016-05-06t11:09:53z5 Hearing Summary

Date: 05/06/2016

12:55 PM -- SB16-216



Senators Lundberg and Guzman presented Senate Bill 16-216 to the committee, and discussed amendment L.002 (Attachment C). The bill recreates a presidential primary election. The Governor must set the date of the presidential primary election by September 1, in the year preceding a presidential election. The presidential primary election must be held no later than the third Tuesday in March, but no earlier than the date set in the major party rules before which states are penalized delegates to the national party convention. The presidential primary is the only issue to be put to voters at the election. Candidates for each political party are to be listed on separate ballots. A political party may elect not to participate in a presidential primary election if written notification of the party's decision not to participate is filed with the Secretary of State by October 1, of the preceding year. The bill specifies other details about the conduct of the election, including required notices to be given to voters, the required procedures for candidates and write-in candidates to appear on the ballot, and the order of candidates on the ballot.



16SenateState0506AttachC.pdf



The state must reimburse counties for the actual direct costs incurred to conduct a presidential primary election and the bill authorizes a General Fund appropriation for this reimbursement. The SOS will determine the type of direct costs for which counties will be entitled to reimbursement.



01:04 PM -- Suzanne Staiert, Deputy Secretary of State, testified in support of the bill.