On March 25, Alabama Representative Cam Ward introduced HB 738. It lowers the non-presidential independent petition from 3% of the last gubernatorial vote, to 1.5% of the last gubernatorial vote cast. The presidential independent petition (a flat 5,000 signatures) would not be affected by the bill. Representative Ward is a Republican representing Bibb and Shelby Counties.

Alabama has the nation’s highest petition requirement for non-presidential statewide independent candidates in the nation. It is the only state above 2% of the last vote cast, for non-presidential statewide independents. Thanks to Mike Rster for this news.