On May 16, the Missouri passed SB 797, the bill to fix the technical glitch in the ballot access procedures for new parties. The existing law says a petition to qualify a new party doesn’t need to list any candidates, except that if the party intends to run for president, the petition needs to list the presidential and vice-presidential candidates and the candidates for presidential elector. SB 797 fixes that problem. The intent of the law (created in 1993) was to let parties qualify before they had chosen any candidates. Thanks to Ken Bush for his persistent attempts over the years to solve this problem.
HB 1310, the bill to move the independent candidate deadline from July to March, failed to pass, and the legislature has now adjourned for the year.
SB 797 is a somewhat modest improvement, but it is the only bill that has passed any state legislature this year, to help minor party and independent candidate ballot access. It would be a grim year indeed that saw no legislative improvements whatsoever.
Thanks to Senator Joan Bray…..always a champion of fairness and justice.
Show Me Independents are pleased with the passage of SB797 and death (at least this year) of HB1310. We do have concerns with others such as SB1038 concerning campaign contributions which passed late yesterday and voter ID.
I don’t see that “glitch” as a problem; because as stated “The intent of the law (created in 1993) was to let parties qualify before they had chosen any candidates.” I see that as a good thing.
How much $$$ to do a PROPER ballot access case about SEPARATE – IS – NOT – EQUAL ???
Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483, 495 (1954).
I.E. to have 1 or more EQUAL tests for ALL candidates for the SAME office in the SAME area to get on the ballots ???
I.E. An EQUAL nominating petition to show preliminary support from the Electors.
This AIN’T atomic physics.