Nevada Senate Legislative Committee Passes SB 292 but Amends the Bill so it Doesn’t Increase the Number of Signatures for New Parties

On April 6, the Nevada Senate Legislative Operations & Elections Committee passed SB 292. However, it amended the bill so that it no longer increases the number of signatures needed for a new or previously unqualified party from 1% to 2% of the last vote.

Unfortunately, the part of the bill moving the petition deadline from mid-June to June 1 is still in SB 292. So is the new distribution requirement, requiring that the petition carry the signatures of 1% of the last US House vote in each of the four U.S. House districts.

SB 292 also adds a straight-ticket device to Nevada general election ballots. The vote in Committee was 3-2, with all three Democrats in favor, and both Republicans opposed. Now the bill moves to the Senate floor.

The part of the bill making the deadline earlier is likely unconstitutional. In 1992 a U.S. District Court enjoined the June 10, 1992 petition deadline for new parties. Fulani v Lau, cv-N-92-535.


Comments

Nevada Senate Legislative Committee Passes SB 292 but Amends the Bill so it Doesn’t Increase the Number of Signatures for New Parties — 2 Comments

  1. I am pretty sure a party in Nevada can also maintain ballot access by having a specified number of people registered to vote under its name. I seem to recall hearing that the LP of NV reached that threshold in recent years. I would have to look this up for verification though.

  2. A party can remain on the Nevada ballot with its registration, but it can’t become a party by doing a registration drive.

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