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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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