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Senate amends election law provision
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Posted on Sep 07 2005
The Senate approved yesterday a bill that amends a provision in the election law to remove certain restrictions imposed on House candidates.
The Senate passed Senate Bill 14-96, which aims to amend section 6303, Title 1 of the Commonwealth Code to remove the provision requiring candidates for a House seat to be “a registered voter and a resident of the election precinct where he or she is a candidate for at least two years immediately preceding the date of election.”
This came about after the Commonwealth Election Commission refused to certify the nomination of a precinct I candidate Rose Ada-Hocog of the Covenant Party for not meeting the requirements.
The opposition candidate was reportedly not a registered voter during the 2003 midterm election.
Bill author Senate majority leader Paul Manglona said the law should provide “equal opportunity” to people wanting to seek public office. He said such a restriction imposed on House candidates is not imposed on other candidates.
The senator also said that the bill aims to protect election board members from personal liabilities.
