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Senate debates SB114 to change filing window and add mail‑in runoffs when no primary candidate reaches 35%
Summary
Second substitute SB114 would move filing to early January, require candidates to declare nomination pathway, and create a mail‑in August runoff when no candidate exceeds 35% in primaries with more than three candidates; sponsors said it targets partisan elections and will be moved to third reading pending a fiscal note.
Senator Bramble presented the second substitute of Senate Bill 114 on election law, explaining it was lifted to the top of the second‑reading calendar to facilitate prompt floor action.
The measure would change the filing period to the first week of January and require candidates, by the end of the filing period, to declare whether they intend to pursue nomination via the caucus/convention, signature, or both. The bill would also create a mail‑in runoff in August if more than three candidates run in a primary and no candidate receives more than 35% of the primary vote; in that case the top two primary finishers would move to the runoff.
Senators questioned the bill’s scope. Senator Stevenson and Senator Stephenson asked whether the change would apply to municipal or nonpartisan elections such as local school board contests; the sponsor clarified SB114 applies only to partisan elections in even‑numbered years and would not alter nonpartisan local processes. Senator Bramble said the change aims to address plurality concerns and could reduce pending legal challenges if major parties accept the compromise. The Senate moved the second substitute for a third reading after the fiscal analyst signaled a fiscal note would be available.
