h_sa_2017a_2017-03-02t10:16:29z0 Hearing Summary

Date: 03/02/2017

Location: LSB A

10:16 AM -- HB17-1163



Representative Foote announced that House Bill 17-1088, concerning the verification of voter eligibility in various elections processes, would be heard at a later date to be announced.



Representative Everett presented House Bill 17-1163. The bill changes the time frame for when various candidate petitions must be filed and the number of signatures that must be collected. Specifically, candidate petition deadlines are changed:



• from 85 days before the primary election to 100 days to designate party candidates and for petitions to nominate minor political party candidates;

• from 117 days before the general election to 100 days to nominate unaffiliated candidates;

• from 20 days to 34 days after the date of the order issued by the governor for unaffiliated candidate petitions for a congressional vacancy;

• from 67 days before the school board election to 81 days for petitions to nominate school board candidates; and

• from 71 days before the municipal election to 85 days for petitions to nominate municipal candidates in coordinated elections.



The bill also changes the number of signatures required for partisan office candidate petitions for minor political party and unaffiliated candidates. For State Senate, the number of required signatures is changed from 600 signatures or 2 percent to 1,000 signatures or 30 percent of the votes cast in the senate district in the most recent election. For State House of Representatives the number of required signatures is changed from 400 signatures or 2 percent to 1,000 signatures or 30 percent of the votes cast in the house district in the most recent election.



10:18 AM -- Martha Tierney, America Votes, testified in opposition to the bill.





10:19 AM



Representative Everett made concluding remarks about the bill. Representative Foote made comments about the bill.

10:22 AM



The committee adjourned.