Minnesota Representative Drew Roach (R-Farmington) has introduced HF 3534. It would dramatically ease ballot access for minor parties. Minnesota already has two categories of qualified party in its law, major and minor. But, perversely, a qualified minor party is not on the ballot, and all its nominees must use the independent petition (which permits a party label). The only advantage to being a qualified minor party is for campaign finance. A qualified minor party is one that polled 1% for any statewide office at the last election.

The bill would expand the usefulness of the minor party provision, so that minor parties would be on the general election ballot automatically. They would choose their nominees in conventions or other types of party meetings. Here is the bill text.

Other states that have two tiers of qualified party (both of which are on the ballot, but the lower tier parties nominate by convention) are Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia (but only for statewide office), Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico (for President only), Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.