The bill proposes significant electoral reforms for the judiciary in West Virginia, shifting from a nonpartisan election system to a partisan one for justices of the Supreme Court of Appeals, circuit court judges, family court judges, and magistrates. It mandates that these positions be elected through partisan primary and general elections, introduces specific requirements for ballot design, and clarifies the campaign periods for these elections. Key changes include the deletion of provisions allowing nonpartisan elections and the introduction of new language that specifies elections will occur during general elections, ensuring that candidates in judicial circuits with numbered divisions are tallied separately to determine party nominees.

Additionally, the bill amends the procedures for candidate filings for various political offices, requiring candidates for county or municipal offices to file announcements by the last Saturday in January before the primary election and mandating electronic verification of party affiliation by the Secretary of State's office. It also modifies the order of offices on ballots, removing nonpartisan designations and ensuring clarity in the titles of judicial positions. The bill abolishes the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Public Campaign Financing Program, reallocating remaining funds to the general revenue fund, and clarifies the appointment process for judges, emphasizing that vacancies will be filled by the Governor based on recommendations from party executive committees.

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
Committee Substitute: 3-1-16, 3-1-17, 3-4A-11a, 3-5-4, 3-5-6a, 3-5-6b, 3-5-6c, 3-5-6d, 3-5-6e, 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, 51-11-6
Engrossed Committee Substitute: 3-1-16, 3-1-17, 3-4A-11a, 3-5-4, 3-5-6a, 3-5-6b, 3-5-6c, 3-5-6d, 3-5-6e, 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, 51-11-6