On June 10, the Delaware House unanimously passed HB 425. The bill says that for 2010 only, the number of registrants for a party to be ballot-qualified should be one-twentieth of 1%, not one-tenth of 1%.

Earlier this year, the legislature had increased the requirement from one-twentieth of 1% to one-tenth of 1%, effective immediately. Most of Delaware’s ballot-qualified minor parties then did a good job of complaining that it is not fair to stiffen the requirements in an election year and make it effective immediately. Both the minor parties injured by the new law, and the minor parties not injured by the new law, worked together. The Independent Party of Delaware was especially helpful. They persuaded the Election Commissioner to ask the legislature to pass HB 425. The bill now goes to the Senate. Thanks to Bill Van Allen for this news.