On February 4, the Indiana Senate Elections Committee passed SB 571, which lowers the number of signatures for independent candidates and the nominees of unqualified parties. The vote was 5-2, with all Republicans at the meeting voting “yes” and the two Democrats voting “no.”
The bill lowers the statewide petition from 44,934 signatures (2% of the last vote cast for Secretary of State) to exactly 4,500 signatures.
We were here last year, and the Democrats voted no in the committee as well, if I’m not mistaken. I don’t know what the logic of the Democrats supporting strict ballot access is here, but it is getting really old and really doesn’t do much to make me want to support their candidates.
In 2017, the same Indiana bill was SB 418. It passed the same committee 5-3. The three no votes were two Democrats and one Republican.
Later, the sponsor felt it would fail on the Senate floor, and he withdrew the bill to give himself more time to rally support from his fellow Republicans, so now two years has passed and we will see what happens.
In 2018, the bill was SB 328. It passed out of committee on a 6-3 vote. Both Democrats voted for it. Both then voted against it on the Senate floor, as it went down 17-31. At least 2 Democrats were among the 17, including a Co-Author.