s_sa_2017a_2017-02-15t13:39:35z1 Hearing Summary

Date: 02/15/2017

Location: SCR 357

02:36 PM -- SB17-069



The committee recessed. The committee reconvened.



Senator Holbert, sponsor, requested that the committee postpone Senate Bill 17-069 indefinitely. This bill authorizes designated election officials to use random sampling to verify candidate petition signatures and directs the Department of State to promulgate random sampling rules. Under current law, all signatures must be verified using voter registration records. The bill also requires that designated election officials verify that a candidate petition circulator is qualified and that the circulator's signature does not predate any of the petition signatures. Any petition executed by an ineligible circulator or prior to the date of any eligible voter signature is void. This bill also directs the Department of State in collaboration with county clerks and other designated election officials to study best practices for collecting candidate petition signatures electronically. Findings must be reported during the SMART Act hearing for the Department of State prior to the start of the 2020 General Assembly.