Elections; run-off elections. (HB1425)

Introduced By

Del. Danny Marshall (R-Danville) with support from co-patron Sen. Frank Ruff (R-Clarksville)

Description

Elections; run-off elections. Provides that no candidate shall be deemed to have been elected at a general or special election to the United States Senate, the House of Representatives, the General Assembly, or any statewide office unless such candidate receives more than 50 percent of the total votes cast for that office. The bill requires that when no candidate for such an office receives more than 50 percent of the total votes cast at the general election for that office, a run-off election between the candidates receiving the highest and next-highest number of votes for that office shall be held. However, no run-off election shall be held if the number of write-in votes cast for an office and the number of votes cast for the candidate receiving the highest number of votes for an office together equal more than 50 percent of the total votes cast for that office. The bill requires a run-off election following a general election to be held on the first Tuesday in January, and a run-off election following a special election to be held on the fourth Tuesday following the certification by the State Board of Elections of the results of the special election. If a recount is conducted, the bill requires the run-off election following a general or special election to be held on the fourth Tuesday following the date of the certification by the court of the results of the recount. The bill prohibits any run-off election from being held on a legal holiday and provides that the run-off election shall instead be held on the next following Tuesday that is not a legal holiday. The bill also provides that in all other elections, including a general election of electors for the President and Vice-President of the United States, the person having the highest number of votes for an office shall be deemed to have been elected to such office and shall receive the certificate of election. Under current law, except in the case of a recount, the person having the most votes cast at any election shall be deemed to have been elected to that office. Read the Bill »

Outcome

History