House Bill 31 Summary

• Abolishes partisan primary elections and replaces them with non-partisan "preferential elections" open to all qualified voters regardless of party affiliation, held three weeks before general elections.

• When only one candidate qualifies for an office, that candidate's name goes directly on the general election ballot; when multiple candidates qualify, the candidate receiving a majority in the preferential election advances alone, or the top two candidates advance if no majority is achieved.

• Candidates must file intent to run and pay filing fees 60 days before the general election with either their political party's executive committee or the appropriate election commission if unaffiliated, with fees ranging from $10 to $300 depending on office sought.

• Modifies ballot formatting to list candidates alphabetically with their party affiliation (if any) in parentheses, removes all references to "primary elections" throughout state code and replaces them with "preferential elections."

• Takes effect July 1, 2016, and repeals numerous sections of code governing partisan primary elections, executive committee duties, and primary election procedures.