D.C. Act 23-198. Primary Election Filing Requirement Emergency Amendment Act of 2019.

AN ACT

To amend, on an emergency basis, the District of Columbia Election Code of 1955 to allow candidates to be listed on the ballot for presidential primary elections who have complied with the candidate qualification rules of a political party.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Primary Election Filing Requirement Emergency Amendment Act of 2019".

Sec. 2. Section 5(b)(2) of the District of Columbia Election Code of 1955, approved August 12, 1955 (69 Stat. 700; D.C. Official Code § 1-1001.05(b)(2)), is amended to read as follows:

"(2) No person shall be listed on the ballot as a candidate for nomination for President in such presidential primary election unless:

"(A) No later than 90 days before the date of such presidential primary election, there shall have been filed with the Board a petition on behalf of the person signed by at least 1,000, or 1%, whichever is fewer, of the qualified electors of the District who are registered under section 7, and are of the same political party as the nominee; or

"(B) The person has complied with the rules of the political party to be listed on the ballot, and if the party rules provide for candidate qualification by means other than gathering petition signatures as described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the political party shall certify to the Board no later than 24 hours after the date that is 90 days before the date of such presidential primary election the names of candidates for nomination who have qualified by such means.".

Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement.

The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement of the Budget Director as the fiscal impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a).

Sec. 4. Effective date.

This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), and shall remain in effect for no longer than 90 days, as provided for emergency acts of the Council of the District of Columbia in section 412(a) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 788; D.C. Official Code § 1-204.12(a)).