House Bill 985 - Summary

• Repeals the Nonpartisan Judicial Election Act (Sections 23-15-974 through 23-15-985) and restores partisan primary elections for all judges, effective from the Voting Rights Act approval date.

• Reenacts provisions requiring judges for Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, circuit courts, and chancery courts to be nominated through party primary elections held concurrently with other state primary elections.

• Amends election code sections to require candidates for judicial office to declare party affiliation when qualifying and to appear on both primary and general election ballots identified by party.

• Adds Supreme Court justices, Court of Appeals judges, circuit judges, and chancellors to the list of candidates required to pay filing fees ($200 for Supreme Court/Court of Appeals judges, $100 for circuit and chancery judges) when entering races for party nominations.

• Requires submission to the Attorney General of the United States or U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia for Voting Rights Act Section 5 approval before the act becomes effective.