On February 2, the New York Assembly passed AB 9108, which moves the deadline for independent candidate petitions, and the petitions for the nominees of unqualified parties, from August 23 to June 7. The bill also eliminates the September primary for state and local office. If the bill becomes law, the June primary now used for Congress would include state and local primaries as well. The vote was 123-18.
The petition deadline change is not necessary for the main purpose of the bill. No media in New York state has reported on the deadline change. If the bill is signed into law, only Texas will have an earlier independent presidential petition deadline. Courts in five other states have ruled that June is unconstitutionally early for independent candidate deadlines (Alabama, Arizona, Kansas, Nevada, and South Dakota).
“Last minute changes” to election ballot access laws are a great tool for the Democrats & Republicans. They don’t leave as much time for Independents and 3rd parties to comply.