Texas Senator Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) has introduced SB 2531, to double the number of signatures for an independent candidate, from 1% of the last gubernatorial vote, to 2%. The Texas statewide independent petition has been 1% ever since 1903 when Texas first created government-printed ballots.
Even the 1% petition is so difficult, it is seldom used. It has not been used statewide since 2006. For legislative independents, only one qualified in 2022. Voters who vote in the primary cannot sign independent candidate petitions, and the time period to collect the signatures is short.
The bill also doubles filing fees. The filing fee for U.S. Senator goes from $5,000 to $10,000. The bill also doubles the number of signatures needed for a petition in lieu of filing fee. Thanks to Linda Curtis for this news.
Geez. They are trying to make ballot access tougher in Texas for both minor parties and independent candidates. They must really fear competition.
So incredibly undemocratic. I hope the the minor parties and any kind of voter rights organizations get together and class action this hard. It seems like an organized attack effort this year – I thought the Dems had some kind of ALEC-like action going on this themselves, but it seems the Reps don’t want to be left out.
Gerrymander hack oligarchs in ALL States just following orders from DNC and RNC HQ in Devil City —
kill off competition– via ballot access / gerrymanders.
Surprised he didn’t write the bill to include third parties as well.
Also to be noted? It’s not just statewide; the bill doubles the number of signatures for local-level partisan races, too.
Also also to be noted? At both the state and lower levels, filing fees are doubled.
I see no reason why USA shouldn’t follow Zelenskys policy of no opposition political parties allowed. Might as well. That’s what its headed toward in USA.
Building a higher fence around their ballot monopoly. Voters keep out. Pay to use the duopoly gate for authorized entry only
Maybe we need to be asking why both sides are working diligently to keep independents off the ballot.
Spoiler effect.
They are raising the barriers at the same time a case against the old barriers has not been finalized.
People are finally getting mad enough at spoilers to put a stop to it?
There’s no such thing as a “spoiler.”
No party OWNS anyone’s vote. There is no pre-ordained, rightly winner!
Yes there is. TRUMP!!!