The bill proposes significant electoral reforms for the judiciary and boards of education in West Virginia, shifting from a nonpartisan to a partisan election system for justices of the Supreme Court of Appeals, circuit court judges, family court judges, magistrates, and members of boards of education. Key amendments include replacing the term "nonpartisan" with "partisan" in multiple sections, establishing guidelines for partisan ballot design and printing, and updating the election schedule for various judicial positions from 2016 to 2026. The bill also maintains the applicability of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Public Campaign Financing Program while introducing new provisions for candidate filings and ballot formatting.

Additionally, the bill outlines changes to the election process for family court judges, mandating that they be elected at large within their circuits without primary elections, and removing party affiliation from ballots. It clarifies the appointment process for judicial vacancies, specifying that appointed individuals will serve until the term ends on December 31 following the next general election if a vacancy occurs after a certain date. The legislation aims to streamline the election process for judicial positions and enhance the clarity of campaign financing regulations, ultimately aligning the electoral framework with partisan practices.

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