Changes to election provisions adopted

Senators passed a bill April 3 that makes several changes to the state’s current election law.

LB1048, introduced by Gretna Sen. John Murante, requires political parties to file a copy of the party’s plan for selecting national convention delegates with the secretary of state by Dec. 1 of the year prior to a presidential election.

Under the bill, the delegate selection plan requires that at least 80 percent of the delegates commit to choosing a presidential candidate based on the results of the caucus or primary election.

It also requires that the delegates are awarded to the winner of the caucus or primary election, or awarded proportionally based on the number of votes received by each candidate receiving at least 15 percent of the votes.

The delegate selection plan will specify if delegates are committed to a presidential candidate based on the results of a combination of a caucus system and a statewide primary election.

The secretary of state will deliver a copy of the official election calendar to the state party headquarters of each party within 10 days of publication of the calendar.

Senators passed the bill on a 49-0 vote.