HB 1080 Summary

• Establishes nonpartisan elections for county sheriff offices beginning with the 2012 election cycle, eliminating party affiliation requirements on candidacy declarations.

• Implements runoff procedure where if more than two candidates qualify, all names appear on the Primary Election ballot; if no candidate receives over 50% of votes, the top two advance to the General Election ballot.

• Removes the six-month political party registration requirement for county sheriff candidates while maintaining it for other state and county offices.

• Amends county sheriff qualifications to require all newly elected sheriffs to complete a sheriff's administrative school within 12 months of taking office.

• Effective date: November 1, 2011.