The current primary election OEP contains only information regarding ballot propositions and other information on voting procedures the lieutenant governor considers necessary. This bill would allow for the inclusion of maps of the house districts, sample ballots, absentee applications, information on bonding authorizations, and changes to a given precinct in addition to the information already in statute. Additionally, the bill would allow for candidate statements in the primary election OEP.

Currently there are no candidate statements provided in the OEP for a primary election. However, according to a Legislative Research Services report, roughly 40 percent of State House and Senate elections are effectively decided through the primary election process. This bill would allow candidates to submit photographs and statements for the primary election. Additionally, the candidates who win the primary would be allowed to submit a new statement for inclusion in the OEP for the general election. The candidates appearing in both the primary and the general OEPs would need to pay separately for each inclusion.

There is currently no requirement that the matters in the OEP be accessible online. This bill mandates that all information found in the OEP be made available on the Division of Elections' website no later than when the OEP is mailed to registered voters.

General obligation bonds have a great impact on the fiscal condition of the state. Section 8 of this bill would provide additional information to legislators about the current and proposed indebtedness of the state whenever a G.O. bond package is brought up before the legislature for referral to the voters. The voters would also receive the same information.

Passage of this bill would greatly increase the amount of information available to voters during elections and enhance the legislature's understanding of proposed G.O. bond packages.