Earlier this year, the Rhode Island State Senate passed SB 203, which lowers the number of signatures for a group to become a ballot-qualified party from 5% of the last vote cast (currently, 23,589 signatures), to exactly 10,000 signatures. The legislature then adjourned, but is returning October 28 for another 3-day session.

It had been thought that the House would consider SB 203 in the October 3-day session. However, the bill’s sponsors have decided not to bring it up in the October session. Instead they will work for a more comprehensive bill early in 2010. The new bill will probably include some provision to ease the requirements for a party to remain ballot-qualified. Current law says a party must poll 5% for Governor or President at either of the last two elections, in order to stay on the ballot. The Moderate Party is on the ballot in 2010, but it is possible it will choose not to run a gubernatorial candidate, and perhaps would rather concentrate on state legislative races, and local government partisan races.

The legislature eventually must pass some bill on ballot access, because earlier this year, a federal court struck down the part of the law that makes it illegal to circulate a petition for party qualification during odd years.