A BILL to amend and reenact section one, article five, chapter three of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to changing the date on which the West Virginia presidential primary election is held; specifying issues which may be placed on the ballot; requiring the state to pay the cost; and allowing political parties to determine eligible voters.

§3-5-1. Time and place of holding primary elections; hours polls open; presidential primary elections.

At such election the polls shall be opened and closed at the hours provided for opening and closing the polls in a general election.

(b) In the year two thousand four, and every four years thereafter, the presidential primary election shall be held on a Saturday selected by the secretary of state which is no later than the third Saturday following the date on which the state of New Hampshire holds a similar election when a president of the United States is to be elected.
(1) The only issues which may be placed on the ballot at a presidential primary election are those issues which pertain directly to the presidential election and those issues which are being placed before the voters by a county, municipality or local school board.
(2) Those political parties which are eligible to participate in the presidential primary election shall determine those voters who are eligible to vote in that election.
(3) The state shall bear the entire cost of the presidential primary election.
(c) At the primary elections provided for in this section the polls shall be opened and closed at the hours provided for opening and closing the polls in a general election.