Enrolled Bill Summary

            House Bill 1476 amends the Election Code to authorize the certifying authority for an election to declare an unopposed candidate elected to an office of the state or county government if the candidate is the only person whose name is to appear on the ballot for that office and no candidate's name is to be placed on a list of write-in candidates for that office. In such a case, the election for that office is not held and the name of the candidate is listed on the ballot as elected to the office. The offices and names of any candidates declared elected in this manner are to be listed separately on the ballot after the contested races in the election under the heading "Unopposed Candidates Declared Elected," and no votes are to be cast in connection with these candidates. The bill requires the certifying authority to issue a certificate of election to a candidate declared elected in an uncontested race in the same manner as one is issued to a candidate elected in an election. The certifying authority for a statewide or district office is the secretary of state, and for a county or precinct office, the county clerk.

            This bill takes effect contingent on voter approval of the constitutional amendment proposed by House Joint Resolution 62.