HB 6602 Summary

• Removes prosecuting attorney and sheriff from the list of county offices elected on a partisan basis, effective with the 2020 general election.

• Establishes nonpartisan primary elections in August before general November elections for prosecuting attorney and sheriff candidates, with top vote-getters (up to twice the number of positions) becoming nominees.

• Requires candidates for prosecuting attorney or sheriff to be registered, qualified electors of the county by the filing deadline and to file nominating petitions or pay a $100 filing fee by the fifteenth Tuesday before the August primary.

• Prohibits candidate withdrawal after filing petitions or fees except within 3 days of the filing deadline, and allows the governor to remove prosecuting attorneys or sheriffs for official misconduct, neglect of duty, extortion, habitual drunkenness, or felony conviction.

• Updates ballot order requirements in sections 697 and 699 to include prosecuting attorney and sheriff as nonpartisan offices, and modifies related county office provisions by removing prosecuting attorney and sheriff references where applicable.