Presidential Year Standardized Primary Date Amendment Act of 1997
Bill 12-282

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A BILL IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

To amend the District of Columbia Election Code of 1955 in order to authorize the Board of Elections to conduct a Mayoral and Council primary on the 1st Tuesday of May in each presidential election year instead of the 1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday in September.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Presidential Year Standardized Primary Date Amendment Act of 1997.

Sec. 2. Section 10(a) of An Act to regulate the election in the District of Columbia of electors of President and Vice President of the United States and of delegates representing the District of Columbia to national political conventions, and for other purposes, approved August 12, 1955, as amended (69 Stat. 702, ch.862, §10; D.C. Code §1-1314(a)) is amended to strike paragraphs (3)(B) and (3)(C) and insert the following paragraphs in their place:

"(3)(B) Except as otherwise provided in the case of special elections under this act primary elections of each political party for the office of member of the Council shall be held on the 1st Tuesday in May of each even-numbered year that is a presidential election year, and in other even-numbered years, on the 1st Tuesday after the 2nd Monday in September; and general elections for such office shall be held on the Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November of each even-numbered year."

"(3)(C) Except as otherwise provided in the case of special elections under this act, primary elections of each political party for the office of Mayor and Chairman shall be held on the 1st Tuesday in May of each even-numbered year that is a presidential election year, and in other even-numbered years, on the 1st Tuesday after the 2nd Monday in September; and general elections for such office shall be held on the Tuesday after the 1 st Monday in November of each even numbered year."

Sec. 3. Effective Date

The act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), approval by the Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority as provided in section 203(a) of the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Act of 1995, approved April 17, 1995 (109 Stat. 116; D.C. Code §47-392.3(a)), and a 30-day period of Congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the district of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Code §1-233(c)(1)), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.