Automatic advancement for write-in candidates passed

Senators passed a bill Feb. 13 that allows for automatic advancement in the case of a small pool of candidates for county office.

If the number of county office candidates from each party in a primary election does not exceed the number of candidates that may be nominated by the party, those candidates automatically will advance to the general election under LB56, a bill introduced by O’Neill Sen. Tyson Larson.

The bill allows for a person to file as a write-in candidate in a partisan primary election within two days of the March 1 filing deadline.

Senators passed the bill on a 41-2 vote.