The proposed bill, HB2497, mandates the Secretary of State (SOS) to establish a secure online petition signature collection system (E-Qual) specifically for candidates seeking judicial office and the office of clerk of the superior court. This system will enable qualified electors to sign nomination petitions through a secure internet portal, ensuring that only eligible voters can sign and that their identities are verified. Additionally, candidates will be allowed to collect up to 125% of the required number of nomination signatures using this online system.

In contrast to current law, which does not specify the use of an online system for judicial candidates, this bill introduces a formal requirement for the SOS to implement such a system. It also increases the maximum number of signatures that can be collected by candidates, allowing them to gather more than the standard requirement. Overall, the bill aims to modernize the nomination process for judicial candidates by leveraging technology to facilitate signature collection.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-975
Senate Engrossed Version: 16-319
Chaptered Version: 16-319