As already noted, a bill to improve Oklahoma ballot access was introduced recently in the State Senate. Now there are two even better bills introduced in the House.

HB 2181, by Speaker of the House Jeffrey Hickman (R-Fairview), would lower the petition to recognize a party to 1% of the last gubernatorial vote. That would be 8,249 signatures in 2016.

HB 1813, by Representative Eric Proctor (D-Tulsa) would make the petition for a new party exactly 5,000 signatures, which was the Oklahoma law between 1924 and 1974. Oklahoma never had more than two minor parties on the ballot at any election during those fifty years.

The State Senate bill, SB 318, sets the party petition at 2% of the last vote cast. Thanks to Richard Prawdzienski for the news about the House bills.