The Texas House Elections Committee hears HB 1812 today. The meeting started at 8 a.m. HB 1812 concerns filing fees for candidates who want a minor party convention nomination. The bill, as originally introduced, clarifies that everyone who even wants to be considered for a convention nomination must pay a filing fee. The original law on filing fees for convention parties was unclear on whether the fee was to be paid by applicants, or just by candidates chosen by the convention. The original law is also unclear about how the fee is to be paid. HB 1812 says the check is made out to the government.
The Texas Libertarian Party is sponsoring a “lobby day” for its activists on April 15, so it is possible the bill was set for today as a courtesy to the Libertarian Party. Thanks to Jim Riley for this news.
Democrat and Republican candidates make out checks to the political party. The fees are used to buy ink and paper for primary ballots and to pay the wages of party loyalists who act as election judges. The money also goes to party officials administer the primaries.
There is no reason to file have filing for Libertarian or Green candidates. It is illegal to nominate anyone who ran in a primary or even voted. Libertarians have to choose someone who affilates as a Libertarian. Until 1960 there was no filing. The legislature at that time was composed of 181 Democrats. The bill was a vote suppression bill.
HB 1812 would require filing with the party chair with the fee paid to a government official. This might require travelling to two different cities.