Four West Virginia Delegates have introduced HB 4477, which eases the definition of “political party.” It says that a group is a party if it polled 1% for any statewide office at either of the last two elections. Alternatively, it meets the definition if its registration is above one-tenth of 1%, which currently would be 1,218 registrants.
Currently the Mountain Party and the Libertarian Party are ballot-qualified, because they polled 1% for Governor in 2012. If this bill passed, they would both have enough registered members to remain ballot-qualified, and would not need to worry about running for any particular statewide office in the future. Currently the Constitution Party, which is not on the ballot, has 185 registered members, so it would need to increase its size in order to qualify.
The sponsors are Doug Reynolds (D-Huntington), Pat McGeehan (R-Chester), Steven Shaffer (D-Tunnelton), and Mike Folk (R-Martinsburg). Another bill to ease the definition of “party”, HB 4356, has two sponsors, McGeehan and Isaac Sponaugle. Thanks to Jeff Becker for this news.
For those who want to help, please make telephone calls to these House Judiciary Committee members to move this legislation out of committee to a floor vote:
Mike Azinger
(304) 340-3202
Andrew Byrd
(304) 340-3362
Frank Deem
(304) 340-3137
Tom Fast
(304) 340-3170
Barbara Evans Fleischauer
(304) 340-3127
Shawn Fluharty
(304) 340-3270
Michael Folk
SPONSOR of HB4477
(304) 340-3350
Geoff Foster
(304) 340-3121
Roger Hanshaw
(304) 340-3135
Kayla Kessinger
(304) 340-3197
Patrick Lane
House Judiciary Vice-Chair
(304) 340-3252
Tim Manchin
House Judiciary Minority Chair
(304) 340-3331
Justin Marcum
(304) 340-3126
John B. McCuskey
(304) 340-3183
Clif Moore
(304) 340-3165
John Overington
(304) 340-3148
Larry L. Rowe
(304) 340-3287
Steven Shaffer
SPONSOR of HB4477
(304) 340-3160
John Shott
Republican House Judiciary Chair
(304) 340-3252
Stephen Skinner
House Judiciary Minority Vice-Chair
(304) 340-3248
Kelli Sobonya
(304) 340-3175
Amy Summers
(304) 340-3139
Ryan Weld
(304) 340-3367
Mark Zatezalo
(304) 340-3120
Here is the bill text: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=hb4477%20intr.htm&yr=2016&sesstype=RS&i=4477