Georgia Governor Signs Bill that Eases Minor Party Presidential Ballot Access

Posted on by May 7, 2024
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On May 7, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed SB 189, an omnibus election law bill that includes a provision easing presidential ballot access for minor parties, but not for independent candidates. The bill says if a minor party is on the ballot in at least 20 other states, it can automatically have its presidential candidate on the ballot in Georgia.

There has been speculation that the Governor would veto the bill, because another part of the bill, involving ballot-counting technology, is opposed by the current Secretary of State. The bill also has controversial provisions that make it easier to challenge voters, and that requires that all official election mail sent to homeless persons must be sent to them care of the county elections office, instead of to a postal address that is more easy for a homeless person to visit.

Illinois State Board of Elections Will Consider at July 9 Meeting Whether New Ballot Access Restriction Can be Imposed This Year

Posted on by May 7, 2024
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The Illinois State Board of Elections has a meeting on July 9. One of the items dealt with will be the ballot status of Jay Keeven, the only Republican running for State Reprsentative, 112th district. He got on the ballot by submitting a petition, under the old Illinois law procedure for candidates who want a party nomination after the March primary is over. Assuming the party didn’t nominate anyone in the primary, the old law let a party nominate someone by meeting if the candidate had submitted the same number of signatures after the primary that would have been needed if he had petitioned earlier for the primary.

Governor J.B. Pritzger signed SB 2412, the bill that repealed that procedure, on May 3, the day after Keevan submitted his petition. There are many court decisions and administrative decisions that say states cannot make ballot access rules worse in the middle of the petition season, and expect to have those changes take effect immediately. See this story.