Bill > S3633

Introduced Session

Under current law, county clerks and municipal clerks are tasked with drawing the names of candidates and groups of candidates from a box to determine the order in which the candidates will appear on the ballot for the ensuing primary or general election. Multiple candidates for the same office who are grouped together on their nominating petitions are drawn together. For primary election ballots, candidates for different offices may associate with one another and have their collective ballot positions determined by the drawing for the first office. This bill replaces the hand drawing procedures with a computerized drawing system to determine the random order of candidates. The bill requires that, prior to the use of any computerized system for this purpose, the Secretary of State must approve of said system, and the system must be shown to have appropriate safeguards to limit the potential for outside influence. The bill also removes the provisions that allow for candidates in the primary election to be placed on the ballot according to the drawing of another candidate for another office, often known as "bracketing" together, ensuring that each computerized drawing for each office is independent of one another. Multiple candidates running as a group for the same office may still have their names drawn together as one. Finally, the bill provides that the computerized drawing for ballot position will be viewable both in person and electronically.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Joe Cryan (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee (on 09/19/2024)

Official Document