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Lawmakers weigh moving independent candidate filing deadline after primary in H.474
Summary
Lawmakers, the Secretary of State’s elections director and municipal clerks debated Representative Laura Sebelia’s amendment to H.474 to let independent candidates file after party primaries, with elections officials warning of tight timelines, vendor and UOCAVA constraints and limited staff capacity.
Representative Laura Sebelia proposed an amendment to H.474 on March 20 that would move the independent candidate filing deadline to two weeks after the statewide primary, arguing the change would give voters a post-primary option if they reject party nominees.
The measure was discussed at a House Government Operations & Military Affairs Committee hearing where election officials and municipal clerks urged caution. Director of Elections Sean Shand of the Secretary of State’s office said his division is small — “Our team is just myself and 5 other people” — and described the two-to-three weeks after the August primary as “arguably our biggest crunch time,” when staff and local clerks are processing canvasses, resolving ballot issues and beginning work to prepare general-election ballots.
Sebelia said she does not support the bill’s ‘‘sore loser’’ provision but wants to give independent candidates an opportunity to enter races after…
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