Committee considers amendment to move COPP candidate-certification deadline earlier for municipal races

Representative Julie Darling (House District 84) presented a bill the committee identified as House Bill 455 to change the Commissioner of Political Practices (COPP) certification deadline for municipal candidates. The sponsor asked the committee to adopt an amendment that moves the COPP certification/notification date so local election offices receive certifications earlier.

“...we changed it to municipal general election and then provide notification no later than 5 days after the candidate filing date,” Representative Julie Darling told the committee while introducing the amendment and asking the committee to consider it in executive action.

County elections supervisors and county clerks who administer ballots described practical problems with the previously proposed certification date. Connor Fitzpatrick, Lewis and Clark County elections division supervisor, said large counties — Gallatin among them — had warned that a September 30 certification date was too late to allow for ballot printing and mailing. Fitzpatrick recommended moving the certification date earlier (the amendment shifted the target from about September 30 to September 24) so counties have the time necessary to finalize ballots and avoid reprints.

Kim Truejill and Deborah Belford from the Commissioner of Political Practices’ office attended as informational witnesses and made staff available for questions. No opponents testified in person or online during the committee hearing. Representative Darling closed by asking the committee to concur in the bill with the proposed amendment.

The committee recording shows proponents from county elections offices and the COPP staff supporting the amendment as a practical measure to synchronize municipal candidate certification with local ballot-printing schedules. The committee closed the hearing with the sponsor’s request for concurrence with the amendment.