Committee rejects sync-of-primary-dates bill, citing registrar concerns

Senate Bill 76, a proposal to synchronize primary election dates during presidential years so voters would face one consolidated primary instead of staggered contests, failed to report out of the Privileges and Elections Committee.

Sponsor Senator Van Volkenberg described the bill as an efficiency measure to reduce confusion that can occur when different offices hold separate primaries; proponents argued it would ease administrative burden on registrars and reduce voter confusion from multiple 45‑day early-voting windows. Committee discussion referenced prior debate and mixed support; a motion to report was put to a roll call that recorded 6 yeas and 9 nays, and the bill did not advance from committee.

Committee members said the proposal had bipartisan interest in prior years but noted unresolved technical and scheduling questions. No outside witnesses spoke in opposition at the committee table during this hearing.