HB 4 Summary: Elections

• Repeals ranked-choice voting for general elections and replaces it with plurality voting (candidate with most votes wins)

• Eliminates open primary system; requires candidates to be members of political parties to appear on primary ballots, with limited exceptions for independent candidates

• Restores party-based election administration by requiring major parties (governor's party and second-place party from prior gubernatorial election) to nominate poll watchers and election board members

• Removes dark money disclosure requirements and contribution reporting thresholds for donations exceeding $2,000; eliminates penalties for delayed contribution reporting

• Modifies campaign finance laws by removing certain disclosure requirements for nongroup entities and repealing specific contribution transparency provisions