Arkansas State Senator Bart Hester (R-Bentonville) has introduced SB 803. Current law says no one may run for more than one office simultaneously. The bill would say that anyone could run for two federal offices simultaneously.
Arkansas State Senator Bart Hester (R-Bentonville) has introduced SB 803. Current law says no one may run for more than one office simultaneously. The bill would say that anyone could run for two federal offices simultaneously.
The bill was amended in committee (and reported back to the senate).
Current Arkansas law permits the presidential candidate (whose name appears in lieu of the names of the presidential elector candidates) to also be a candidate for another office. This is an exception to a name appearing twice on a ballot.
SB 803 as written would permit a candidate to appear on the ballot twice for federal office at any general election or primary. The amended version would “clarify” that it would permit someone to run for President and senator or US representative.
Since there is already a provision for the general election, I’m guessing that it is intended to apply to the presidential preference primary. But it is inconsistent in that it permits a person to be a candidate for President and mayor of Whoopin Hollar at the general election, but not in a primary.
I don’t cotton to this bill.
Constitutionally speaking, there is no such thing as a “candidate” for President (or Vice-President) of the United States. There are only ELECTORS for President or Vice-President. I don’t know why politicians cannot understand this, and allow any person who is running for a federal (or statewide) office, to likewise allow such person to have ELECTORS pledged to them for President or Vice-President in the same election. This is a non-issue here, and if we would adhere to the Constitution when it speaks of electing a President or Vice-Presdident, there would be no questions or problems.