Committee approves amended bill requiring physical address on qualifying forms and restricting candidates who voted outside their district

A state Senate elections committee approved a strike-all amendment to House Bill 811 that bundles several changes to candidate qualifying procedures, including a uniform qualifying form that must include a physical address and new language disqualifying candidates who voted outside their district during the two years prior to qualifying.

Committee members said the conforming language also implements a statewide move to shift midterm congressional elections to March across all years and adds procedural clarifications to the certification process. The bill adds a requirement that the secretary of state prepare a single qualifying form for use at all levels of election and requires candidates to…