SB181 Summary

• Requires elections for county offices to be conducted on a nonpartisan basis beginning with the 2012 election cycle, with candidates unable to declare party affiliation on candidacy forms.

• Establishes primary election procedures where all candidates appear on the Primary Election ballot, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the General Election if no candidate receives more than 50% of votes.

• Removes party affiliation requirements for county office candidates while maintaining six-month voter registration requirements; eliminates references to runoff primary elections for county officers.

• Amends procedures for filling county office vacancies due to candidate death before election, including provisions for special elections when necessary.

• Becomes effective November 1, 2011.