§11-65  Determination of party disqualification; notice of disqualification.  (a)  Not later than 4:30 p.m. on the one hundred twentieth day after a general election, the chief election officer shall determine which parties were qualified to participate in the last general election, but which have become disqualified to participate in the forthcoming elections.  Notice of intention to disqualify shall be served by certified or registered mail on the chairperson of the state central committee or in the absence of the chairperson, any officer of the central committee of the party, as shown by the records of the chief election officer.  In addition, public notice of intention to disqualify shall also be given.

     (b)  If an officer of the party whose name is on file with the chief election officer desires a hearing on the notice of intention to disqualify, the officer of the party shall, not later than 4:30 p.m. on the tenth day after service by mail or not later than 4:30 p.m. on the tenth day after the last day upon which the public notice is given in any county, whichever is later, file an affidavit with the chief election officer setting forth facts showing the reasons why the party should not be disqualified.  The chief election officer shall call a hearing not later than twenty days following receipt of the affidavit.  The chief election officer shall notify by certified or registered mail the officer of the party who filed the affidavit of the date, time, and place of the hearing.  In addition, public notice of the hearing shall be given not later than five days prior to the day of the hearing.  The chief election officer shall render the chief election officer's decision not later than 4:30 p.m. on the seventh day following the hearing.  If the party does not file the affidavit within the time specified, the notice of intention to disqualify shall constitute final disqualification.  A party thus disqualified shall have the right to requalify as a new party by following the procedures of section 11-62. [L 1970, c 26, pt of §2; am L 1973, c 217, §1(5); am L 1977, c 189, §1(4); gen ch 1985, 1993; am L 1998, c 2, §4]