SPONSOR:	Rep. Bolden & Rep. D. Short & Sen. Henry & Sen. Pettyjohn
	Reps. Baumbach, Dukes, Q. Johnson, Longhurst, Potter, Ramone, Schwartzkopf, B. Short, Wilson; Sens. Bushweller, Lopez

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

148th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 375

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 15 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PRIMARY ELECTIONS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend Title 15, § 3101 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 3101 Nomination, withdrawal and primary election dates.

The following schedule shall apply for all candidates:

(1) Notification of candidacy shall be on or before 12:00 noon of the second Tuesday in July fourth Tuesday in February.

(2) Such notification of candidacy may be withdrawn on or before 4:30 p.m. on the first Friday after the second Tuesday in July fourth Tuesday in February. In the event the first Friday after the second Tuesday in July fourth Tuesday in February is a legal holiday, then the final day to withdraw shall be the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday.

(3) Primary elections for all political parties shall be conducted on the second Tuesday after the first Monday in September fourth Tuesday in April.

(4) After the deadline for notification of candidacy set forth in paragraph (1) of this section and before the deadline for withdrawal set forth in paragraph (2) of this section, a candidate may change that candidate's own candidacy and become a candidate for a different office in the coming election. Such change of candidacy shall be deemed to be irrevocable withdrawal from candidacy for the first announced office.

Section 2. This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2020.

SYNOPSIS

This bill moves the date of primary elections for statewide office, county office, and municipal office to the fourth Tuesday in April, which is the date of the presidential primary. The dates for submitting and withdrawing a notification of candidacy have similarly been adjusted. The bill takes effect in 2020.