Following the recent legislative change that eliminated the February regular election date, a bill was introduced this week to clarify that the Presidential Primary election, held every four years, be classified as a “regular” election, allowing local units of government to include local ballot questions during that election.  This bill, House Bill 4904 (McBroom), was introduced on Tuesday and is scheduled for a hearing in the House Elections committee later this week.  A number of communities have contacted the League and their local legislators to inquire about the ability to place questions on the March 8, 2016 Presidential Primary ballot.  Because that election is currently designated as a “special” election, municipalities are ineligible to include local questions on that ballot.  If passed, HB 4904 would allow local governments to add other questions to this ballot and subsequent Presidential Primary ballots.

Chris Hackbarth is the League’s director of state affairs. He can be reached at 517-908-0304and [email protected].