Arkansas Representative Joshua Bryant (R-Rogers) has introduced HB 1784. It somewhat improves the non-presidential independent candidate petition deadline. In midterm years it would move from March 1 to May 1. In presidential years, it would move from mid-December of the year before the election, to mid-February, which is still far too early.

The only reason this bill exists is that in December 2017, a U.S. District Court struck down the old deadline, which is still on the books. The bill is an attempt to conform the statute to the court ruling. The case was Moore v Martin, e.d., 4:14cv-65.

Louisiana State Senator Sharon Hewitt (R-Slidell) has introduced SB 235. It would change Louisiana elections for congress. Currently there are no primaries for congress and no party nominees. Instead, everyone runs in November. If no one gets 50%, there is a runoff between the two top candidates in December.

The bill would provide that parties would have nominees for Congress. Parties with registration of 5% or more would hold a primary on the second Saturday of August. Qualified parties with registration below 5% would choose nominees by vote of the State Central Committee. If a qualified party with registration less than 5% fails to act, then, if there are at least two candidates from that party, the Secretary of State would choose one by lot.

The bill lets each party entitled to a primary decide for itself whether to allow independents to vote in its primaries. The bill provides run-off primaries for these parties, if no one gets 50% in the primary. Thanks to Mike Wolf for this news.

The Florida legislature is considering HB 699. It would ban large donations from individuals to petition campaigns for state initiatives. It is likely to receive a vote in the House soon.

The U.S. Supreme Court has made it clear that limits on campaign donations can only be upheld if they are for the purpose of preventing bribery. Therefore, if this bill becomes law, it is likely to be held unconstitutional. One can’t bribe an initiative.