HB55
Primary elections; candidates for nomination, withdrawal of candidacy.
Summary
As Passed House of Origin. Primary elections; candidates for nomination; withdrawal of candidacy resulting in unopposed primary; primary cancellation and nomination procedure.
Provides that if a person who is a candidate for nomination by a political party at a primary election and who appears on the ballot for such election withdraws his candidacy on or after the forty-fourth day before but prior to the Tuesday immediately preceding the primary election, and the ... (More) result of such withdrawal is one remaining candidate who is now unopposed, the remaining candidate will be declared the party's nominee for the office sought and the primary election will be canceled. The bill requires the notice of withdrawal to be signed and notarized and to be submitted to the general registrar, who then transmits it to the local electoral board and the State Board of Elections along with a certification that the remaining candidate is now unopposed for nomination. The State Board is required to declare the remaining candidate to be the nominee within one calendar day of receiving such notice, and the local electoral board is then required to petition the circuit court for the cancellation of the primary election. Finally, the bill directs the State Board to prescribe procedures for canceling a primary election, including instructions for locking and securing voting systems, disposition of marked and unmarked absentee ballots, and voter notification. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2025. This bill is identical to SB 131. (Less)-
Bill History
- 12/22/2023 - House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24100058D
- 12/22/2023 - House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
- 01/11/2024 - House: Impact statement from DPB (HB55)
- 02/02/2024 - House: Assigned P & E sub: Election Administration
- 02/05/2024 - House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendments (8-Y 0-N)
- 02/09/2024 - House: Reported from Privileges and Elections with amendment(s) (22-Y 0-N)
- 02/11/2024 - House: Read first time
- 02/12/2024 - House: Read second time
- 02/12/2024 - House: Committee amendment agreed to
- 02/12/2024 - House: Engrossed by House as amended HB55E
- 02/12/2024 - House: Printed as engrossed 24100058D-E
- 02/12/2024 - House: Impact statement from DPB (HB55E)
- 02/13/2024 - House: Read third time and passed House BLOCK VOTE (99-Y 0-N)
- 02/13/2024 - House: VOTE: Block Vote Passage (99-Y 0-N)
- 02/14/2024 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed
- 02/14/2024 - Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
- 02/20/2024 - Senate: Reported from Privileges and Elections (14-Y 1-N)
- 02/22/2024 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N)
- 02/23/2024 - Senate: Read third time
- 02/23/2024 - Senate: Passed Senate (35-Y 4-N)
- 02/28/2024 - House: Enrolled
- 02/28/2024 - House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB55ER)
- 02/28/2024 - House: Impact statement from DPB (HB55ER)
- 02/28/2024 - House: Signed by Speaker
- 03/02/2024 - Senate: Signed by President
- 03/11/2024 - House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024
- 03/11/2024 - Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024
- 03/28/2024 - Governor: Approved by Governor-Chapter 166 (effective 1/1/25)
- 03/28/2024 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0166)
