The bill S.137, introduced by Senator Perchlik, aims to enhance voter options in primary and general elections by allowing voters to select "None of these candidates" on their ballots. This option will be explicitly counted as a vote for none of the listed candidates, rather than being treated as a blank vote. The bill includes provisions to amend existing laws to ensure that votes for "None of these candidates" are recognized with the same significance as votes for actual candidates, particularly in determining whether a candidate has received a majority of votes.

Key amendments in the bill include the addition of the "None of these candidates" option on both primary and general election ballots, along with specific instructions for voters. The bill also outlines that if a voter marks both a candidate's name and "None of these candidates," this will be recorded as an overvote. Furthermore, the act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, ensuring that the new voting option is implemented in future elections.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 17-2362, 17-2472, 17-2587