SJ33:

Election governance structure in the Commonwealth; JLARC to review.

Bill Summary:

Study; JLARC; election governance structure; report. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to conduct a two-year study on the election governance structure in the Commonwealth. In conducting its study, JLARC shall (i) review the roles and responsibilities of state and local election officials in the administration and conduct of elections in the Commonwealth, including the level of oversight by state election officials and the degree of decision-making by local election officials; (ii) review the methods of selection and removal of state and local election officials and evaluate how such methods shape accountability mechanisms; (iii) review the level of funding provided by the state and localities; (iv) evaluate the potential for partisan pressures and influence in administrative decisions at the state and local election level; (v) develop recommendations for objective methods of evaluating the performance of both local and state election officers to determine if they are appropriately fulfilling the responsibilities of their positions and whether removal may be necessary; and (vi) make other recommendations as necessary and review other issues as warranted.