COMMITTEE OF ORIGIN: Standing Committee on Elections
This bill reinstates the presidential preference primary election, to be held on the first Tuesday in March of each presidential election year.
A person who files to be included on the presidential primary ballot is not prohibited from filing as a party candidate for nomination to another office.
Specific deadlines for administrative actions by local election authorities and the Secretary of State that are necessary to hold the presidential preference primary are specified in the bill.
Candidates will be required to pay a filing fee to the state committee of the established political party on whose ballot they wish to appear. The amount of the fee will be determined by the state committee of each political party.
The conduct of the presidential preference primary and the count and canvass of the votes cast must conform as nearly as possible to that prescribed for the primary election for state officers.
All costs of the presidential preference primary, except for proportional costs for any political subdivision or special district holding an election on the same day, will be paid by the State.
The results of the presidential preference primary will be binding for the purpose of allocating and directing the votes of party delegates and alternate delegates. The political parties must allocate delegates in proportion to the certified statewide and congressional district results of the election, unless a national party rule requires an alternative allocation method, in which case the allocation must conform as nearly as possible to the election results.
Delegates will file a written pledge with the Secretary of State affirming that they will vote for the candidate to whom they are bound under for at least the first ballot. A delegate who fails to give or violates the pledge will be deemed to have resigned immediately. An alternate delegate pledged to the same candidate will fill the vacancy. The Secretary of State must certify the results of the presidential preference primary and is authorized to promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this bill.
This bill is similar to HB 367 (2025).
Statutes affected: