Five West Virginia Delegates have introduced HB 2565, which makes it easier for a group to obtain and/or keep party status. Current law requires a party to poll 1% for Governor before it enjoys qualified status. The bill would keep that, but would add a second method, that the group have at least 1,000 registered members. Thanks to Jeff Becker and Bill Redpath for this news.

Another bill pending in West Virginia has the same goal, but changes the vote test from 1% for Governor to 1% for any statewide office. That bill is HB 2032. The author of HB 2032 is one of the co-sponsors of HB 2565, which suggests that HB 2032 will be set aside in favor of HB 2565.