This bill proposes a significant shift in the election procedures for judicial candidates in West Virginia, transitioning from a nonpartisan to a partisan system. It requires that all judicial candidates, including those for the Supreme Court of Appeals, circuit judges, family court judges, and magistrates, file as partisan candidates and participate in both primary and general elections. Starting with the elections in 2028, all judicial elections will be conducted on a partisan basis, with ballots reflecting this change by listing candidates in a partisan format. The bill also replaces the term "nonpartisan" with "partisan" in various sections of the election laws, ensuring that the titles of judicial offices are clearly labeled as partisan.

Additionally, the bill clarifies the structure and content of ballots for judicial candidates, specifying the order in which offices and candidates will appear. It mandates that the arrangement of names for all offices is determined by a drawing conducted by the county commission clerk. The bill also outlines procedures for the drawing of candidates' names, particularly for delegates to the national convention, ensuring that committed candidates are listed alphabetically within their groups while uncommitted candidates are categorized separately. Overall, the bill aims to enhance transparency, clarity, and organization in the election process for judicial positions, aligning them more closely with other political offices.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 3-5-6a, 3-5-6b, 3-5-6c, 3-5-6d, 3-5-6e, 3-5-13, 3-5-13a