- Introduced -

SB 710 - This act modifies provisions of election law.

This act shortens the deadline for the candidate's filing of financial interest statement from 25th to 21st day after the candidate's filing deadline. For most candidates, financial interest statements would be due sometime in mid-April.

Current law provides that March elections may be held on the first Tuesday in March for cities and counties having a charter and which have March primaries. The act changes the date to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March.

The act removes a current exception to a notification deadline for newly formed seven-director school.

The act specifies that disqualification to vote due to a felony conviction does not have to be connected with the right of suffrage.

The act requires the last four digits of a social security number on the voter registration application and removes the optional request for occupation and mother's maiden name on the application.

The act allows absentee voting for overseas voters, but only for federal and statewide candidates and statewide ballot issues (not for state senators and representatives).

The act changes who is to be notified in the event that the chairman of the nominating committee cannot be reached and prohibits the chairman of a nominating committee from certifying his or her own selection as candidate.

The act changes the deadline for the Secretary of State's notification to election authorities from "immediately" to "as soon as practicable" upon certification of names of candidates by party nominating committees.

The act also provides that the election judge enters voting date "in the record". Current law says that the voting date is entered "on the card."

MARGARET J. TOALSON