On March 3, the Oregon legislature passed SB 1527. Among other provisions, it eases the definition of a qualified party. It lowers the percentage of registered voters needed for a party to remain qualified from one-half of 1% of the total registration, to one-fourth of 1%.
Oregon also lets a party remain ballot-qualified party if it polls 1% for any statewide race at either of the last two elections (although such parties must have registration of at least one-tenth of 1%).
The part of SB 1527 that eases the definition of a party was amended into the bill just a few days before the legislature adjourned. The House passed the amended bill on March 3, and the Senate concurred in that amendment the same day. The bill saves the qualified status of the Working Families Party.
So, as the state “modicum of support” quotas evaporate, is it unconstitutional to have a zero quota for a modicum of support prior to actual general election balloting?
Is it unconstitutional if a state does not print the names of any candidates on their monopoly ballots?