Wilson Announces Senate Passage of Legislation Eliminating Unnecessary Primary Elections
March 8, 2017
Steve Wilson News
COLUMBUS—State Senator Steve Wilson (R-Maineville) today announced the Senate passage of legislation that would save taxpayers money by eliminating unnecessary primary elections. The change would trigger a primary election based on the number of candidates who are certified to appear on the ballot, not the number of candidates who file.
"This legislation is about more than eliminating unnecessary elections, it's about the responsible stewardship of Ohio taxpayers' money," said Wilson. "We owe it to Ohioans to ensure that public resources are used in the most efficient manner possible."
Existing Ohio law requires local boards of election to hold primary elections when two or more people file to run for an office, even if only one candidate remains on the ballot after the death, withdrawal or disqualification of the other candidates. Senate Bill 10 would change the law to trigger a primary election based on the number of candidates who are certified to appear on the ballot, not the number of candidates who file.
Holding uncontested primary elections erodes public confidence in the democratic process and devalues the importance of voting. Making this change will ensure that hundreds of staff hours and hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars are not wasted by local boards of elections who are required to administer these unnecessary uncontested primaries.
Senate Bill 10 now goes to the Ohio House of Representatives where it will receive further consideration.
"This legislation is about more than eliminating unnecessary elections, it's about the responsible stewardship of Ohio taxpayers' money," said Wilson. "We owe it to Ohioans to ensure that public resources are used in the most efficient manner possible."
Existing Ohio law requires local boards of election to hold primary elections when two or more people file to run for an office, even if only one candidate remains on the ballot after the death, withdrawal or disqualification of the other candidates. Senate Bill 10 would change the law to trigger a primary election based on the number of candidates who are certified to appear on the ballot, not the number of candidates who file.
Holding uncontested primary elections erodes public confidence in the democratic process and devalues the importance of voting. Making this change will ensure that hundreds of staff hours and hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars are not wasted by local boards of elections who are required to administer these unnecessary uncontested primaries.
Senate Bill 10 now goes to the Ohio House of Representatives where it will receive further consideration.