New Hampshire Representative Max Abramson (R-Seabrook) has introduced HB 570. It would ease ballot access for new and previously unqualified parties. It sets up a minor party classification in the law. A minor party is a group with at least 500 registered members. It would nominate by convention.
The bill also expands the definition of a qualified major party, to include having received at least 4% for president. Currently only elections for U.S. Senate and Governor count toward meeting the 4% vote test. Here is the bill’s text.
The bill’s two purposes are to save money for towns and cities, since processing so many nominating petitions is very expensive.
It would also create a “minor party” in the law that can exist and contest many down-ticket races at no cost to the party or taxpayer. It recognizes that there’s a growth phase for new parties where they’ve got to spend their resources building membership and knowledge about their main issues and philosophy.
INDIVIDUAL candidates are nominated and elected-
NOT any *political party*.