SB 709 - Under the provisions of this act there shall be a presidential primary on the same day as General Municipal Election Day (first Tuesday after the first Monday in April) in presidential election years.

The Secretary of State shall prepare a list of official candidates, who have paid a filing fee of $1,000 to their political parties and for whom a written request has been received by the Secretary of State.

A series of caucuses shall be held after the primary to choose delegates to the national convention. Delegates must commit themselves to a candidate or an uncommitted slate. Seventy-five percent of the delegates shall be chosen by caucus. Delegates in each Congressional district shall be chosen in proportion to the votes obtained by each candidate within each Congressional district.

Candidates who receive less than fifteen percent of the district's vote shall not be allotted delegates. Votes cast for candidates receiving less than fifteen percent of the total shall be allocated as uncommitted if such votes, in aggregate, plus votes for uncommitted are at least fifteen percent of the total votes cast.

At-large delegates shall be chosen by the state convention and shall be apportioned to each candidate according to the candidate's total statewide vote. Delegates must vote for their declared candidate through two ballots or until the candidate withdraws or obtains less than fifteen percent of the votes cast at the convention.

The state is only responsible for costs directly associated with the presidential preference primary.

A person filing for the presidential primary may also file as a party primary candidate for another office.

This act is very similar to a previous law, HB 879 (1986), which had established a presidential primary only for 1988. This act, however, has an April election (rather than Super Tuesday in March), and is ongoing into future presidential election years.
MARGARET J. TOALSON