HB0249

Establishes a runoff election process for state and federal primary nominations when no candidate receives a majority of votes, moves the primary election date from August to May, and makes conforming amendments to election law.

• Creates a runoff election requirement for governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, state auditor, state superintendent of public instruction, and federal offices when no candidate receives more than 50% of primary votes. The two candidates with the highest primary votes advance to the runoff, with tie-breaking by the state canvassing board if necessary. (W.S. 22-5-601(a), W.S. 22-5-601(b))
• Sets runoff elections for the first Tuesday after the second Monday in August in general election years. (W.S. 22-5-601(c))
• Specifies that the secretary of state shall bear all costs of runoff elections and reimburse counties for their expenses. (W.S. 22-5-601(g))
• Creates a runoff election account with a $2,000,000 appropriation from the general fund, with funds continuously appropriated to the secretary of state for runoff election costs and not reverting. (W.S. 22-5-601(h), Section 4)
• Establishes the format and content requirements for runoff election ballots, including header designation, voting instructions, candidate groupings by office, and write-in spaces. (W.S. 22-6-131(a))
• Moves primary elections from the first Tuesday after the third Monday in August to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in May. (W.S. 22-2-104(b))
• Adjusts candidate filing deadlines to 90 days (instead of 96) and not later than 80 days (instead of 81) before the primary election, and changes the secretary of state's deadline for transmitting certified candidate lists to 75 days (instead of 68) before the primary. (W.S. 22-5-209)
• Requires runoff election voter eligibility to be based on registration in the same political party as at the time of the primary election, though new registrants may register for the runoff if they did not register for the primary. (W.S. 22-3-102(f))
• Modifies election timeline requirements, including adjustments to dates for county clerk proclamations, officer appointment deadlines, and canvassing board meetings to accommodate the earlier primary date and runoff election process.