Legislative Background Brief for the State Administrative and Veteran's Affairs Interim Committee 2013‐14 Interim July 2013 SJR 14 Brief: History of Prior Consideration of Combining Primary & School Elections Prepared by Sheri Scurr, Staff Research Analyst Purpose This briefing paper responds to the July 11, 2013, request by the State Administration and Veterans' Affairs Interim Committee (SAVA) for staff to compile background information on the legislature's prior consideration of proposals and research on combining primary and school elections. Previous Bills Session Year Bill No. Sponsor Disposition 1995 HB 370 Rep. Joe Tropila Tabled in (H) State Administration 1997 HJR 23 Rep. Joe Tropila Study Resolution: Passed but the Legislative Council did not assign it to a study committee because of its low ranking in the poll of legislators 2001 SB 110 Sen. Alvin Ellis Tabled in (S) Education & Cultural Resources 2003 HB 599 Rep. Scott Sales Tabled in (S) State Administration 2007 HB 841 Rep. Duane Ankney Tabled in (S) Education & Cultural Resources 2011 HB 242 Rep. Mike Miller Tabled in (H) State Administration 2013 SB 140 Sen. Art Wittich Tabled in (S) Local Government in favor of a committee study resolution 2013 SJR 14 Sen. Alan Olson for (S) Local Government Assigned to SAVA ‐ ranked 14th out of 17 study requests Montana Legislative Services Division, P.O. Box 201706, Helena, MT 59620‐1706 http://leg.mt.gov (406) 444‐3064 FAX: (406) 444‐3036 Page 1 of 5
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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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