On February 18, four Georgia Representatives introduced HB 1257. It abolishes mandatory ballot access petitions for independent candidates, and for the nominees of unqualified parties. Georgia has always required independent and minor party candidates to pay the same large filing … Continue reading
Illinois Representative Mike Fortner (R-West Chicago) has introduced HB 6214. It significantly cuts the number of signatures needed by independent candidates, but it makes their petition deadlines worse. Existing law requires independent candidate petitions to be submitted by late June … Continue reading
Both houses of the South Carolina legislature have now passed bills that make it more difficult for independent candidates to get on the ballot. However, the versions in each house are significantly different. The House bill, HB 3746, is worse. … Continue reading
West Virginia lists parties on the ballot in order of how well they did for President in the last presidential election. Republicans have carried West Virginia in each of the last three presidential elections, so Republicans in recent years have … Continue reading
Bills to abolish the straight-ticket device have been introduced recently in Rhode Island and West Virginia. A straight-ticket device lets a voter cast a ballot for all partisan offices on the ballot without even looking to see who is running. … Continue reading
