EKB News

WEST VIRGINIA....
Governor Joe Manchin made a few key changes to the senate succession bill before sending a final copy to state lawmakers Thursday afternoon. State Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Jeff Kessler, D-Marshall, says the bill no longer includes the "opted out primary". He says there will be a primary election in connection with the special election to fill the unexpired term following the death of U.S. Senator Robert Byrd. The governor's original plan would have eliminated the primary election if only one candidate was on the ballot from a particular party.
The governor's bill was also changed to remove language that delegated what are usually legislative powers over an election to the secretary of state. The bill does give the secretary of state some flexibility when it comes to setting dates for overseas early voting. But Kessler says setting the date of the election and early voting periods will remain a legislative duty. The Senate and House judiciary committees began working on the bill Thursday afternoon.