Earlier it was reported here that North Carolina Senator Jim Jacumin planned to introduce a bill, lowering the number of signatures for independent candidates. Senator Jacumin now plans to expand the bill so that it also lowers the number of signatures for minor parties. Furthermore, the bill will delete the requirement that declared write-in candidates must submit a petition of 500 signatures. North Carolina is the only state that requires declared write-in candidates to submit any petition. The logic for a petition to be a qualified write-in candidate is faulty. Petitions exist to keep ballots from being crowded with too many names, but write-in candidates’ names do not get printed on ballots, so they don’t make ballots too lengthy.
How can I help?
Good question. See http://www.ncfpe.com. That is the website of North Carolinians for Free & Proper Elections, which brought this bill into existence.
Texas has filing requirements of either a fee, or a petition for declared write-in candidates. Texas law also requires that a list of declared write-in candidates be posted in each voting booth. Since it is also required that mail voters should vote under the same conditions as in-person voters to the extent practical, the list of declared write-in candidates would be included in voting materials sent to voters.
Petition requirements exist to ensure a modicum of support. This helps reduce the chance of a candidate being elected with a very small share of the vote (with 100 candidates, a winner could be elected with barely over 1% of the vote). Declared write-in candidates are those who decided to seek office at a relatively late stage in the process.
Texas has filing requirements of either a fee, or a petition for declared write-in candidates. Texas law also requires that a list of declared write-in candidates be posted in each voting booth. Since it is also required that mail voters should vote under the same conditions as in-person voters to the extent practical, the list of declared write-in candidates would be included in voting materials sent to voters.
Petition requirements exist to ensure a modicum of support. This helps reduce the chance of a candidate being elected with a very small share of the vote (with 100 candidates, a winner could be elected with barely over 1% of the vote). Declared write-in candidates are those who decided to seek office at a relatively late stage in the process.