This bill proposes significant amendments to the West Virginia Code, specifically altering the election processes for judicial officers by transitioning from nonpartisan to partisan elections for positions such as Supreme Court Justices, Intermediate Court of Appeals judges, circuit court judges, family court judges, and magistrates. Key changes include the deletion of provisions that mandated nonpartisan elections and the omission of party affiliation on ballots, while inserting language that allows for partisan elections and the identification of candidates by their political parties. The bill also introduces a requirement for separate vote tallies in judicial circuits with numbered divisions, streamlining the election process for these positions.

Additionally, the bill modifies campaign financing regulations, allowing candidates to retain unspent funds from the primary election for use in the general election, with specific accounting stipulations. It establishes new responsibilities for the State Election Commission and the Secretary of State to monitor compliance with the updated election procedures. The amendments aim to enhance the electoral process for judicial positions in West Virginia, ensuring greater accountability and transparency in campaign financing while facilitating a shift towards a more partisan electoral framework.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 3-1-16, 3-1-17, 3-4A-11a, 3-5-4, 3-5-7, 3-5-13, 3-5-13a, 3-10-3, 3-12-3, 3-12-6, 3-12-10, 3-12-11, 3-12-12, 3-12-14, 50-1-1, 50-1-6, 51-1-1, 51-2A-5, 3-5-6a, 3-5-6b, 3-5-6c, 3-5-6d, 3-5-6e