Brief Description: Allowing more candidates to file with the secretary of state.

Sponsors: By House Committee on State Government Operations & Accountability (originally sponsored by Representatives Nixon, Haigh and Shabro).

House Committee on State Government Operations & Accountability
Senate Committee on Government Operations & Elections

Background:

A candidate for the state Legislature, the Court of Appeals, or the Superior
court must file a declaration of candidacy with the county auditor if the district in which the candidate is running is composed of voters from only one county. If the district is composed of voters from more than one county, the candidate must file with the Secretary of State.

Summary:

A candidate for the state Legislature, the Court of Appeals, or the Superior Court may file a declaration of candidacy with either the Secretary of State or the county auditor if the district in which the candidate is running is composed of voters from only one county. If the candidate files with the Secretary of State, the filing fee must be sent to the county auditor. For purposes of the rest of the election laws, the candidate is deemed to have filed with the county auditor, even if he or she actually filed with the Secretary of State.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   96   0
Senate   37   0

Effective: July 24, 2005