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LegislativeBackgroundBrief forthe

StateAdministrativeandVeteran'sAffairsInterimCommittee2013‐14Interim

July2013SJR14Brief:

HistoryofPriorConsiderationofCombiningPrimary&SchoolElections

PreparedbySheriScurr,StaffResearchAnalyst

Purpose

ThisbriefingpaperrespondstotheJuly11,2013,requestbytheStateAdministrationandVeterans'AffairsInterimCommittee(SAVA)forstafftocompilebackgroundinformationonthelegislature'spriorconsiderationofproposalsandresearchoncombiningprimaryandschoolelections.

PreviousBills

SessionYear

BillNo. Sponsor Disposition

1995 HB370 Rep.JoeTropila Tabledin(H)StateAdministration

1997 HJR23 Rep.JoeTropila StudyResolution:PassedbuttheLegislativeCouncildidnotassignittoastudycommitteebecauseofitslowrankinginthepolloflegislators

2001 SB110 Sen.AlvinEllis Tabledin(S)Education&CulturalResources

2003 HB599 Rep.ScottSales Tabledin(S)StateAdministration

2007 HB841 Rep.DuaneAnkney Tabledin(S)Education&CulturalResources

2011 HB242 Rep.MikeMiller Tabledin(H)StateAdministration

2013 SB140 Sen.ArtWittich Tabledin(S)LocalGovernmentinfavorofacommitteestudyresolution

2013 SJR14 Sen.AlanOlsonfor(S)LocalGovernment

AssignedtoSAVA‐ranked14thoutof17studyrequests

MontanaLegislativeServicesDivision,P.O.Box201706,Helena,MT59620‐1706http://leg.mt.gov(406)444‐3064FAX:(406)444‐3036

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SJR 14 Research Brief: History of Prior Consideration of Combining Primary and School ElectionsState Administration and Veterans' Affairs Interim Committee: 2013-14

Proponentsofbillscombiningelections

Witnessesatoneormorehearings

EdArgenbright,Helena,formerSuperintendentofOPI,formerPoliticalPracticesCommissionerJohnBarbagello,HelenaEdButcher,Winifred,formerStateSenatorDeonCarpenter,HelenaSusanGetz,HelenaShirleyHerrin,HelenaHarrisHimes,MontanaEagleForumMikeKecskes,HelenaRobertKolar,HelenaPhyllisLamping,HelenaRobertLaRue,HelenaPatMcCain,HelenaLoriePage,HelenaTimRavndal,Lewis&ClarkCountyConservativesBarbaraRush,Helena,retiredteacherJohnRush,HelenaTomStockton,HelenaBeckyStockton,HelenaMikalWilkerson,HelenaTrevorWilkerson,HelenaDaveWood,Helena

Summaryofproponentargumentsathearings

C Combiningtheelectionswillincreasevoterturnoutatschoolelectionssomorepeopleparticipateintheimportantdecisionsbeingmade.

C Combiningtheelectionswillreducecostsbyconsolidatingelectionactivities.

C Combiningtheelectionswillremedyvoterconfusionandlackofawarenessaboutwhenschoolelectionsareheld.

C Thishasbeendonesuccessfullyinatleast21otherstates.

C Thiswillprovidestrongeroversightandmoreintegrityinschoolelections.

MontanaLegislativeServicesDivision,P.O.Box201706,Helena,MT59620‐1706http://leg.mt.gov(406)444‐3064FAX:(406)444‐3036

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SJR 14 Research Brief: History of Prior Consideration of Combining Primary and School ElectionsState Administration and Veterans' Affairs Interim Committee: 2013-14

Opponentsofbillscombiningelections

Witnessesatoneormorehearings

LindaBrannon,HelenaEricFeaver,MEA‐MFTAlecHansen,MontanaLeagueofCitiesandTownsLisaKimmet,MontanaSecretaryofState'sOfficeJohnMacDonald,MissoulaMarkMackin,HelenaTerryMinow,MEA‐MFTLindaStoll,MontanaClerksandRecordersandElectionAdministratorsBobVogel,MontanaSchoolBoardAssociationDeniseUlberg,MontanaAssociationofSchoolBusinessOfficials

Summaryofopponentargumentsathearings

C Thebillthatwasbeingheardcreatedunworkabletimelineswithrespectto:‐ schoolbudgetcycles;‐ deadlinesforschoolstohaveabilitytocallalevyelection;‐ requirementsfornoticingelectionspriortotheelection;‐ printingandmailingabsenteeandoverseaselectorballots;‐ collectingsignaturesforinitiatives;‐ filingasacandidateandcampaignreportingcycles;‐ oddandevenyearlocalelections;‐ federaldeadlines;and‐ post‐electionwork,includingrecounts.

C Municipalprimariesshouldnotbecombined;municipalprimariesneedspecialconsiderationbecausetheyaresometimesnotnecessaryandifheld,areheldinSeptember,soanApril,May,orJuneelectionwoulddrasticallyincreasethecampaignseasonfortheseelections.

C Additionalballotswouldbeneededandadministratorswouldhavetofigureoutwhichschooldistrictanelectorlivesin.Thisaddscomplexitiesnotaccountedforinthebill.

C TherewillbeadditionalcostsforschoolstocomplywithcertainrequirementsinTitle13,suchaspublicationofnoticespriortotheelection.

MontanaLegislativeServicesDivision,P.O.Box201706,Helena,MT59620‐1706http://leg.mt.gov(406)444‐3064FAX:(406)444‐3036

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SJR 14 Research Brief: History of Prior Consideration of Combining Primary and School ElectionsState Administration and Veterans' Affairs Interim Committee: 2013-14

SummaryofLegislatorquestionsandcomments

C Expressedconcernaboutschoolsnotmailingabsenteeballotstomilitaryandoverseasvoters.

C Questionedwhyadditionalballotswouldcreatetoomuchcomplexitysinceavoter'saddresswouldshowwhichschooldistrictthevoterlivedinandthereforewhichballotavoterwouldreceive.

C Askedhowcostswouldbesharedbetweenschooldistrictsandcounties.

C Questionedwhypublicationofelectionnoticesinnewspapersofgeneralcirculationwouldbeproblemforschooldistricts.

C Askedabouthowschoolshandleabsenteeballotsandwhetherschoolsconductedmailballotelections.

C Askedhowlateandsame‐dayvoterregistrationwouldbehandlediftheelectionswerecombined.

C Notedthattheideaofcombiningtheseelectionswasperennialandwouldkeepcomingbeforethelegislature.But,expressedconcernthatbillspresentedweretechnicallyflawedordidnotcoordinatestatutescontainedinTitle13forprimaryelectionsandTitle20forschoolelectionsinamannerthatelectionadministratorscouldsupport.Statedthatfurthertimeandconsiderationneededtobegiventoironoutthetechnicaldetailsbeforetherecouldbesubstantivepolicydebate.

C Expressedconcernaboutwhethertherewasstatewideinterestincombiningtheseelections.

Conclusion

Billsrelatedtocombiningprimaryandschoolelectionshavebeenproposedinsevenofthelast10legislativesessions.Ateachofthehearingsonthesebills,allproponentsexceptone,werefromHelena.Opponentsrepresentedelectionadministrators,schoolofficials,andlocalgoverningbodies.Theprimaryargumentsforthebillsweretoincreasevoterturnoutandpromotetheintegrityofschoolelections.Theprimaryargumentsagainstthebillswerebasedontechnicalconcerns.ExceptforaSecretaryofStatespreadsheetshowingcertaindatesforelectiondeadlinesunderHB140duringthe2013SessioncomparedtodeadlinesundercurrentlawandasectionbysectionchartfromtheOfficeofPublicInstructiononHB140provisions,nootherexhibitsofresearchvaluewerehandedoutatanyofthehearingsonanyofthepriorbills.A1997studyresolutionwasnotassignedbecauseitdidnotgarnerenoughlegislatorinterestandwasnotconsideredastatewideissue.Inshort,thelegislaturehasneverreceivedsubstantiveresearchoranalysisoncombiningprimaryandschoolelections,norhasitconductedalegislative

MontanaLegislativeServicesDivision,P.O.Box201706,Helena,MT59620‐1706http://leg.mt.gov(406)444‐3064FAX:(406)444‐3036

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SJR 14 Research Brief: History of Prior Consideration of Combining Primary and School ElectionsState Administration and Veterans' Affairs Interim Committee: 2013-14

studyofthistopic.

Attachments

1. SB140andFiscalNote,2013Session2. SB140Exhibit2‐OPIsection‐by‐sectionchart3. SB140Exhibit3‐SOSdeadlinesspreadsheet4. HB242andFiscalNote,2011Session5. HB841andFiscalNote,2007Session6. HB599andFiscalNote,2003Session7. SB110andFiscalNote,2001Session8 HJR23,1997Session9 HB370andFiscalNote,1995Session

Cl01033206shoa.

MontanaLegislativeServicesDivision,P.O.Box201706,Helena,MT59620‐1706http://leg.mt.gov(406)444‐3064FAX:(406)444‐3036

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