This bill:

• requires a candidate who seeks the nomination for an elective office by gathering signatures of registered voters to submit the signatures to the county clerk of each registered voter's residence;
• provides that a county clerk may only certify the signature of a registered voter described above if the registered voter is a resident of the county clerk's county;
• for a signature gathering candidate who seeks the nomination for an office in a district where the officeholder is elected by the voters from more than one county, requires the county clerk of each county to which the candidate submits signatures to:
  • count the number of valid signatures submitted by the candidate; and
  • certify the number of valid signatures to the lieutenant governor;
• for an elective office described above, requires the lieutenant governor to:
  • count the total number of valid signatures received from each county clerk; and
  • if the aggregate number of valid signatures is sufficient for the candidate to qualify for placement on the ballot, certify the signatures;
• amends the candidate nomination petition forms to specify that only a registered voter residing in the county where a candidate submits signatures for verification should sign the candidate's nomination petition;
• for a candidate for elective office seeking the nomination of a qualified political party through signature-gathering, shortens the deadline for the candidate to submit signatures to an election official from 14 to 21 days before the day on which the party holds a convention to nominate a candidate for the same elective office; and
• makes technical and conforming changes.