Fiscal Note - SB 0040 - Revises Requirements For Independent Parties and Candidates to Get On the Ballot
L.R. NO. 0444-02
BILL NO. SB 40
SUBJECT: Elections: Political Parties
TYPE: Original
DATE: January 17, 1997
FISCAL SUMMARY
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON STATE FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED FY 1998 FY 1999 FY 2000
General Revenue $0 $0 to ($10,000) $0
Total Estimated
Net Effect on All
State Funds $0 $0 to ($10,000)* $0
*Dependent on whether a new party attempts to gain ballot access
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FEDERAL FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED FY 1998 FY 1999 FY 2000
Total Estimated
Net Effect on All
Federal Funds $0 $0 $0
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON LOCAL FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED FY 1998 FY 1999 FY 2000
Local Government $0 $0 $0
FISCAL ANALYSIS
ASSUMPTION
Officials of the Office of Secretary of State (SOS) assume their office could
have fiscal impact every general election year. Officials stated that if a
new party were to gain ballot access then there would be the cost of
temporary personnel needed to copy and distribute additional petition pages
to local election authorities and to calculate the number of valid signatures
by congressional district. Three temporary employees for two months
(estimated at 173 hours per month) x $8.00 per hour = $8,304. Additional
postage needed to send larger petitions to local election authorities for
signature verification estimated at $1,000 and additional copies estimated at
$696. These estimates are based on the number of petitions submitted in 1996
- 4 new party petitions and 6 independent candidate petitions. Total cost
would be $10,000.
Oversight assumes that there would be costs to the state only if a new party
would attempt to organize to gain ballot access. For the purposes of this
fiscal note, costs have been stated as $0 to $10,000.
FISCAL IMPACT - State Government FY 1998 FY 1999 FY 2000
(10 Mo.)
GENERAL REVENUE
Cost to Secretary of State (SOS) $0 $0 to $0
($10,000)
TOTAL NET EFFECT TO
GENERAL REVENUE $0 $0 to $0
($10,000)*
*Costs dependent on whether a new party attempts to gain ballot access.
FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government FY 1998 FY 1999 FY 2000
(10 Mo.)
$0 $0 $0
FISCAL IMPACT - Small Business
No direct fiscal impact to small businesses would be expected as a result of
this proposal.
DESCRIPTION
This act changes the petition and filing requirements for independent parties
and candidates. A new statewide party must submit petitions signed by 20% of
those voting in the most recent gubernatorial election and by at least 5% of
the voters in each of the 9 congressional districts. Current law requires
10,000 registered voters to begin a new committee. A new district or county
party could be created upon the petition of 20% or 10,000 registered voters,
whichever is less.
Independent candidates must file during the same periods specified for other
candidates: between the last Tuesday in February and the last Tuesday in
March of the election year.
This legislation is not federally mandated, would not duplicate any other
program and would not require additional capital improvements or rental
space.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Secretary of State
This Fiscal Note is not an official copy and should not be quoted or cited.