Three Connecticut Republican State Senators have introduced SB 222, which eases the definition of a major political party. Current law says a major party is entitled to a primary, and is defined as a group that either polled 20% for Governor, or which has registration membership equal to 20% of the number of voters enrolled in all political parties.
The bill lowers both the vote test and the registration test from 20% to 15%. It is not known why this bill was introduced. The sponsors are Senators Leonard Fasano (the leader of Republicans in the State Senate), Kevin Witkos, and Michael McLachlin. The Republican Party polled 46.15% for Governor in 2014, so it is not in danger of going off the ballot. Its registration is about 20% of the state total, but about 36% of the total of voters registered into a party.
The bill had a hearing in the Government Administration & Elections Committee on February 13, but the legislature’s web page hasn’t posted the minutes for that meeting yet.
This Bill is still too hard for Independents and 3rd partisans. Filing fees – the same as required for major party candidates – is the only fair way.
Connecticut defines a minor party as one that polled 1% for the particular race.
In West Virginia, it is 10% of the gubernatorial vote. At that point, the now major party is required to participate in the primary, file candidates by the January deadline, and be organized meticulously per state election law. Otherwise, minor parties and their candidates have until August 1 to file, may nominate by either convention or primary (if ballot-qualified), and write their bylaws and party organizational structure any way they like. So there is actually an advantage here in NOT being legally defined as a major party. FYI.
Jeff: West Virginia used to have one of the worse laws for 3rd parties. You write, “…may nominate by either convention or primary (if ballot-qualified)…”
How does a 3rd party in West Virginia become ballot qualified so that they have the option of a convention or a primary?
I agree, sometimes, it’s better to keep the status of a minor or 3rd party than trying to be a major party.
Officially recognized “minor” parties in the Mountain State are those which polled between 1% and 9.99999% for their gubernatorial candidate. The Constitution Party is currently seeking sponsors for legislation to expand that to any statewide candidate as well as for a percentage of registered voters – 1/tenth of 1% or a minimum of 1000 is proposed (we currently have 1,218,658 registered voters: http://www.sos.wv.gov/elections/history/Pages/Voter_Registration.aspx )
I hope you can find a legislator who will introduce the bill. They are few and far between. When one does, he/she probably catches flack from their colleagues for any legislation allowing these “nuts” in the 3rd party movement to get on the ballot. They are so afraid that the people one day voters might start paying attention to what we say. They fear loosing their power.