Alabama Representative Marilyn Lands (D-Huntsville) has introduced HB 14. It sets up a statewide initiative process. The petition requirement would be 7% of the last gubernatorial vote, with a congressional district distribution requirement. Each district would need signatures of 1% of the last gubernatorial vote.
On January 10, New Hampshire held a special legislative primary for the Carroll County seat 7 district. Even though the Republican ballot listed two candidates, they both lost to a write-in candidate.
See the election returns here.
The general election will be March 10. See this story about the primary.
Virginia Delegate Eric Phillips (R-Martinsville) has introduced HB 1056, to amend the voter registration form to let applicants choose a party, and also to allow each party to decide for itself who can vote in its primaries. Parties could choose to let independents vote in their primaries, or choose to close their primary to party members, or choose to let all registered voters vote in their primaries.
The bill is ambiguous as to whether the voter registration form would list any parties with a checkbox, or just depend on a write-in line.
New Hampshire Representative Matt Coker (R-Meredith) has introduced HB 1330. It says that any voter is free to choose any party’s primary ballot. New Hampshire has registration by party. Current law lets independents choose any party’s primary ballot but if they do choose a primary ballot, they are then considered to have joined that party.
