On March 11, the Arizona Senate Government Committee passed HB 2608 by a vote of 4-3. It makes it substantially more difficult for members of small qualified parties to get on their own party’s primary ballot. All Republicans voted “yes” and all Democrats voted “no”. The bill has already passed the House, and that was also a party-line vote.
The base for signing is changed from those party registrants to those eligible to sign, which includes independent voters.
I don’t agree. Did I misread the bill? The bill sets the denominator as the number of all registered voters, yet most registered voters are not able to sign such petitions.
The GOP appears to hate 3rd parties and Independents more so than do Democrats. But I believe the day is coming, when Republicans will get on their knees and beg 3rd parties and Independents to support them – even if via a co-nomination process.
Republicans – despite their double talk – are just as much favorable to allowing more and more illegal immigrants coming to the United States – knowing full well that most of these immigrants will eventually become voting Democrats.
The day is coming, when no state will have a Republican majority. If I am alive, I hope to remind them of how they treated 3rd parties and Independents when it came to laws getting on the ballot. I will almost have to laugh in their petrified faces. Reminds me of how petrified the Southern Democrats must have been when they realized they had lost the Civil War. Today’s Republicans are nothing but the Southern Democrats of the 1860s. Seems history seems to repeat itself for the same people. Some people never learn.
How many Republicans were able to get on the ballots in the 1860 election in the soon to be secession regimes in 1860-1861 ???
You may have misread the bill.
The bill introduces the term “qualified signer” to mean voters who are (1) registered with the party; (2) not affiliated with any party; or (3) affiliated with a non-qualified party. This is the class of voters who are permitted to sign petitions. (See new subsection F of 16-321).
Perhaps you misread “qualified signer” as “qualified elector”, which is sometimes used to refer to any person eligible to vote regardless whether they are registered.
The bill also defines “registered voter” for purpose related to qualifying, etc. to mean active voters (excluding those on the suspense list). You may have seen that new definition. I suspect that this is just a clarification of existing practice.
To Alabama Independent:
What about those efforts in 2004 by the Democrats to keep Ralph Nader off the ballot?
The GOP in Arizona views the Libertarian Party as a threat. We “spoil” the elections. The Democrats view us as “useful idiots”. They don’t like us but they also believe we “spoil” elections, only in their favor, so the will vote against legislation such as this. Don’t be fooled, however, into thinking they actually care.
I am opposed to any effort to keep any serious candidate off the ballot – including Ralph Nader. A Filing fee is a reasonable and obtainable test as to whether a candidate can qualify for the ballot, and the voters should be the only measure of whether a candidate should hold office.