SB3618 Summary

• Moves general primary elections from the third Tuesday in March to the first Tuesday in April, and consolidated primary elections from the last Tuesday in February to the second Tuesday in March.

• Caps minimum signature requirements for nomination petitions at 5,000 signatures for all offices, and limits maximum signatures to 3 times the minimum required.

• Requires election authorities to only review signatures on petition pages from the first page through the page where the maximum signature requirement is met, disregarding excess signatures.

• Directs the State Board of Elections to adopt rules by September 1, 2018 authorizing digital voter signatures on nominating, candidate, and referendum petitions, with optional electronic devices that may integrate with the online voter registration system.

• Takes effect immediately upon becoming law.