HB 1541 Modifies provisions relating to local elections

     Handler: Goodman

Current Bill Summary

- Prepared by Senate Research -


SS/SCS/HCS/HB 1541 - The act allows certain third class cities organized under Sections 78.010 to 78.040, to cancel, by order or ordinance, any primary election for the office of mayor and councilman that is currently held in February. Persons wishing to run for these offices shall file a signed statement of candidacy with the city clerk in order to run in the next municipal election. The city clerk shall notify the election authority in order for the ballots to be printed with the names of the candidates. The ballot shall include a warning that voting for more than the total number of candidates to be elected to any office invalidates the ballot.

In any local election to be held where a candidate for a particular office does not appear on the ballot due to the application of Section 115.124 or another statute, or the lack of a candidate filing for the office, the election authority shall publish a public disclosure explaining the reason why such action is taken and the statutory authority for such decision. If a scheduled local election is cancelled due to the application of Section 115.124 or another statute, or a lack of a candidate filing for an office when no other ballot item exists, the election authority shall either provide for public notice in the same manner as if the election would have been held and provide the reasoning and authority for not holding the election or mail a postcard with the disclosure to every household with a registered voter.

This act is similar to a provision of SS/SCS/HCS/HB 1290 (2010).

SUSAN HENDERSON MOORE


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