CS/CS/HB 1325 - Elections Summary

• Officers qualifying for federal office must resign from their current state/local office if terms overlap, with resignation irrevocable and effective by the earlier of the officer's election date or successor's start date; failure to resign results in automatic resignation.

• Municipalities gain authority to determine municipal election dates, choosing from: same date as general election, first Tuesday after first Monday in November in odd years, or third Tuesday in March; preempts state authority to establish municipal election dates.

• Courts may extend poll closing time only upon specific finding that extraordinary circumstances exist, such as acts of God or equipment failures that materially impair polling operations.

• Revises marksense ballot definition to clarify ballots can be marked directly or through voter interface devices, and extends sample ballot publication options to include mail, email, or online delivery instead of requiring newspaper publication.

• Effective July 1, 2017, except section 100.3605 amendments (municipal elections) which take effect July 1, 2020; extends terms of incumbent municipal officers until next municipal election held under new procedures.