On March 31, 5 Georgia state representatives introduced HB 927. It would improve Georgia ballot access. Although it was introduced too late in the session to advance this year, it can advance next year, since Georgia has a 2-year legislative session.

HB 927 is sponsored by 4 Republicans (David Ralston, Ronald Forster, Robert Franklin and Burke Day), and one Democrat (William Mitchell). It lowers all district and county petitions from 5% of the number of registered voters, to 2% of the last vote cast.

It has no effect on the number of signatures now needed to create a new, ballot-qualified statewide party.

It actually makes ballot access somewhat more difficult for statewide candidate petitions in presidential election years (but slightly easier in gubernatorial election years), by changing their petitions from 1% of the number of registered voters to 2% of the last vote cast for that office.