On March 6, West Virginia Delegate Barbara Fleischauer did get the ballot access reform bill introduced. It is HB 2981. It eases the number of signatures from 2% to 1% of the last vote cast. It also moves the non-presidential petition deadline from May to August, so that it would match the presidential deadline. Thanks to Bill Redpath for this news. Redpath has been helping to lobby for the bill, along with several West Virginia minor party activists.
NOW WE NEED TO GET THIS BILL OUT OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. CALL/MAIL/FAX ALL MEMBERS, LEST HB 2981 DIES IN COMMITTEE LIKE IT DID LAST YEAR !!
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE BILL: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=hb2981%20intr.htm&yr=2009&sesstype=RS&i=2981
H. B. 2981 (By Delegates Fleischauer, Hatfield, Staggers, Doyle, Shook, Moore, Klempa, Brown, Susman, Frazier and Longstreth)
[Introduced March 6, 2009; referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.]
A BILL to amend and reenact §3-5-7, §3-5-23 and §3-5-24 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to primary elections and nominating procedures of third-party candidates; removing reference to general election in provision governing declaration of candidacy for primary election; eliminating the reference to the filing of a declaration of candidacy in provision establishing certificate nomination procedures; extending the filing deadline for the nomination of certain candidates; eliminating residency requirement of persons soliciting petition signatures; eliminating requirement that persons signing nomination certificate state a desire to vote for nominated candidate; permitting duly registered voters who sign nomination certificates to vote in the corresponding primary election; requiring persons soliciting signatures to provide circulation dates and a signature as to each certificate page; extending the deadline for the filing of nomination certificates for candidates; and establishing the date by which the filing fee must be paid.
CLICK HERE FOR JUDICIARY COMM MEMBERS (click on their names at left for contact details): http://www.legis.state.wv.us/committees/house/HouseCommittee.cfm?Chart=jud
Is there anything I can do to help? Is there any group I can donate to?
I should point out that I am from Maine and so probably can only help by lobbying.
Argh! Let me say that one more time: I am from Maine and can only help by donating to lobbying efforts. I cannot vote in WV, so I probably would not do much good calling legislators.
SNOOKERED !! When they “found” this bill to re-introduce it, it had LOST it’s signature reduction. The 2%->1% IS GONE!! But, it retains the Aug 1 deadline extention but ADDS DATE and PETITIONER signature requirements. Read it here: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=hb2981%20intr.htm&yr=2009&sesstype=RS&i=2981
Old saying: Be careful what you wish for.
I just looked at the bill on line and it does lower the number of signatures from 2% to 1%. Look in 3-5-23. The “2%” is crossed out and “1%” is substituted.
YEP – I guess I need to schedule a visit with my optomotrist. THANKS RICHARD. I got fooled by the introduction which does not list this percentage reduction:
“A BILL to amend and reenact §3-5-7, §3-5-23 and §3-5-24 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to primary elections and nominating procedures of third-party candidates; removing reference to general election in provision governing declaration of candidacy for primary election; eliminating the reference to the filing of a declaration of candidacy in provision establishing certificate nomination procedures; extending the filing deadline for the nomination of certain candidates; eliminating residency requirement of persons soliciting petition signatures; eliminating requirement that persons signing nomination certificate state a desire to vote for nominated candidate; permitting duly registered voters who sign nomination certificates to vote in the corresponding primary election; requiring persons soliciting signatures to provide circulation dates and a signature as to each certificate page; extending the deadline for the filing of nomination certificates for candidates; and establishing the date by which the filing fee must be paid.”
Jeff:
If you’re reading this board, I sent an email to your
constitutionpartywv@gmail.com address (under my real name), entitled “Fleischauer’s ballot access bill H. B. 2981.”
I have also sent a $35.00 check. I’m hoping that your party can use the money to help lobby for this bill.