On January 10, Indiana State Senator Greg Walker (R-Columbus) introduced SB 418, which lowers the statewide petition for independent candidates, and the nominees of unqualified parties, from 2% of the last Secretary of State vote to exactly 9,000 signatures. The current requirement is 26,700, but that is lower than the normal requirement because 2014 had an especially lower turnout. Here is the text. Most years over the past 30 years, the requirement has been between 32,000 and 38,000.
Indiana is one of only four states in which Ralph Nader never appeared on the ballot.
The bill also raises the number of signatures needed to put a major party member on a primary ballot (for statewide office) from 4,500 to 9,000. Thanks to Craig Marolf for the news.
The Green and Constitution Parties may now have a chance.
Hopefully this will move forward and become law, because Indiana has been in dire need of less restrictive ballot access laws. If this is passed, we might have a real shot at getting the Indiana Green Party really going.
Excellent news!