Guinn signs bill tightening candidate filing rules

A bill requiring Nevada candidates to swear they've never been convicted of a felony was signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Kenny Guinn.

AB285 was pushed by Assemblywoman Ellen Koivisto, D-Las Vegas, who said she experienced problems with opponents in two different election cycles.

In the 2002 general election, Koivisto faced Richard Gardner -- who managed to get his name onto Nevada's ballot even though he had four criminal convictions.

Felony convictions currently ban people from running for public office if their civil rights weren't restored.

In 1998, Republican Michael Plaisted ran against Koivisto although he didn't live in the district -- also a requirement to run for office.

Koivisto's bill requires people filing a declaration of candidacy for public office to swear that, if they were ever convicted of a felony, their civil rights had been restored.

If officials learn that the person who signed the pledge doesn't have the right to hold office, that can lead to a formal challenge to the person's candidacy.

AB285 also requires people filing for office to show proof of residency in the form of photo identification containing the person's address, or a current bill or paycheck.

Guinn also signed AB235, which provides a voters' "bill of rights." Among other things, the bill calls for a uniform, statewide system for counting and recounting votes.