Requires petitions of nomination of candidates for State and county committees of political parties to include functioning e-mail addresses.
Impact
The proposed legislation modifies R.S.19:23-7, which governs the contents of nominating petitions, to incorporate the requirement for a functioning e-mail address. This change is significant because it mirrors existing laws for candidates seeking elective public offices, thus standardizing the requirements across different levels of political candidacy. By doing so, it is expected to improve voter engagement and interaction with candidates, potentially leading to a more informed electorate.
Summary
Senate Bill S1764 aims to enhance the transparency and accessibility of political candidates by requiring that candidates for State and county committees of political parties include a functioning e-mail address in their nominating petitions. This bill emphasizes the importance of providing voters, especially new ones, with reliable means to communicate with candidates. By mandating the inclusion of contact information, the bill seeks to limit voter confusion and ensure that voters can easily access information about the candidates in their political party.
Contention
While the bill is designed to promote voter access and candidate visibility, some may raise concerns over the necessity of such requirements. Opponents might argue that adding another layer of regulation could complicate the nominating process for candidates, particularly those who may not have access to reliable internet services. However, proponents of the bill assert that these measures are essential for enhancing democratic participation and providing voters with the opportunity to make informed decisions.
In dates of elections and primaries and special elections, further providing for affidavits of candidates; in nomination of candidates, further providing for affidavits of candidates, for statement of candidates for delegates to national conventions, for Secretary of the Commonwealth to furnish county boards with list of candidates and candidates to be notified, for nominations by political bodies, for examination of nomination petitions, certificates and papers and return of rejected nomination petitions, certificates and papers and for affidavits of candidates; and, in penalties, further providing for false affidavits of candidates and for false signatures and statements in nomination petitions and papers.
Requires candidate for elective public office to file with nominating petition specific affirmation that candidate has not been convicted of disqualifying crimes.
Requests the secretaries of the Department of Health and Hospitals and the Department of Children and Family Services to study the consolidation of the two departments into one department and to present a plan for such consolidation and related information to the legislature