On February 23, the South Dakota House passed HB 1286, in an amended version that is very different from the original bill. It lowers the petition to create a new party from 2.5% of the last gubernatorial vote, to 1% of the last gubernatorial vote. It says the petition is due on July 1 (existing law says the deadline is July 1 for a party that wants to run for certain offices, but late March if it wants to run for all offices). For 2018, 1% would be 2,775 signatures.
The bill says parties with registration under 2.5% of the state total would not nominate by primary. Instead, each candidate of a small qualified party (except the lesser statewide executive positions) must submit his or her own candidate petition, by July 1. If only one candidate from a particular party for a particular office submits a petition, that person is deemed to be that party’s nominee. If two candidates from the same party for the same office submit a petition, then the party state central committee chooses one of them. These minor party statewide candidate petitions are 1% of that party’s last vote for Governor and can only be signed by party members. If the party didn’t have a candidate for Governor at the last election, 250 signatures are required for statewide office, and only party members can sign. Alternatively, if the candidate doesn’t submit that type of petition, he or she can also submit a petition of 1% of the last gubernatorial vote in the state, and for that type of petition, any registered voter may sign.
The bill also improves the independent candidate deadline, moving it from April to July 1. UPDATE: see this Argus Leader newspaper story.
More separate and UNEQUAL stuff.
1 voter or less per square mile in SD ???
— ie major effort getting ANY signatures ???
The bill seems to be written poorly. It looks to me like: [1] Candidates for minor parties under “alternative party” status still have the option to petition into primaries (Section 8). [2] Candidates for the lesser statewide executive positions are now required to submit candidate petitions (Section 11). [3] The 250-signature option is only available to candidates for U.S. Senate, U.S. House or governor (Section 10).
It’s entirely possible that I’m misreading this. I actually hope I am.
Here’s a good Dakota Free Press article. I’ve left some remarks in the first comment.
Hawley Amendment Fouls HB 1286, Fails to Satisfy Judge Piersol’s Ballot-Access Ruling:
http://dakotafreepress.com/2018/02/24/hawley-amendment-fouls-hb-1286-fails-to-satisfy-judge-piersols-ballot-access-ruling/
It is a very badly worded bill. The State Senate hearing on the bill will be a place to bring out the bill’s flaws.
Where is that Model Election Law
— even with UNEQUAL ballot access sections for minor parties and independents ???