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Committee introduces RS 31949C1 to move candidate withdrawal and replacement deadline to 50 days before election
Summary
Representative Brandon Mitchell presented RS 31949C1 to tighten deadlines for candidate withdrawals and party replacements, moving the cutoff to 50 days before an election to account for expanded absentee voting. The committee approved introduction by voice vote.
Representative Brandon Mitchell, R‑District 6, introduced RS 31949C1, a proposal to change the deadline for candidate withdrawals and party replacements to 50 days before an election.
The sponsor said the change responds to modern absentee and early voting practices. "We chose 50 days because this is 5 days before the absentee ballots must be mailed out to everyone who has requested [one] up to that point," Mitchell said, explaining the proposal is intended to give election administrators time to finalize ballots and avoid late ballot replacements.
Under the draft, a candidate may withdraw up to 50 days before the election. If a withdrawing candidate is the only party nominee for the office at that deadline, the party may replace the candidate on the primary ballot. After the 50‑day deadline, a name would be removed from the ballot only for death, disqualification (for example, a felony conviction), or other statutorily specified grounds.
Committee members asked whether the 50‑day cutoff gives clerks enough time to change absentee ballots. Representative Alfieri asked if five days is sufficient for absentee ballot changes; Mitchell said he had discussed timelines with county clerks and believed 50 days was workable.
Representative Mickelson moved to introduce RS 31949C1; the committee approved the motion by voice vote. A roll call tally was not specified in the transcript. The bill was introduced for further committee consideration.
