Missouri State Senator Joan Bray has again introduced her bill to fix the drafting error in the 1993 ballot access reform law. The intent of the 1993 bill, which passed, was to make it possible for a party to circulate a petition to qualify itself, without the need to list any candidates on that petition. This is called a “party petition”, and most states have something similar.

Unfortunately, due to a drafting error in 1993, the new law still said that the party petition had to list a presidential candidate, and candidates for presidential elector, if the party intended to run for that office. Fortunately the Missouri Secretary of State has permitted stand-in presidential candidates. Nevertheless, the original intent of the law was to eliminate candidates’ names from the party petition entirely. The new bill is SB 70. This the fifth time a Missouri legislator has introduced a bill to fix the old 1993 error. Thanks to Ken Bush for making this happen, and for the information.