The New York state Commission on Public Funding raised the number of signatures for a statewide independent, or for the nominee of an unqualified party, from 15,000 signatures to 45,000 signatures. Under the law that authorized the Commission to re-write election laws, the New York legislature had until December 22 to veto the work of the Commission. The legislature did not act. Therefore, the new petition requirement is now in effect.

A state court in Niagara County is currently considering whether the legislature exceeded its authority when it authorized the Commission to re-write election laws. A decision is expected any day now. That case is actually two cases, one filed by the Working Families Party and the other by the Conservative Party. They are being considered together.

The Commission also raised the vote test for the definition of qualified party from 50,000 votes for Governor, to the greater of 130,000 votes or 2% of the total vote cast, in each presidential and gubernatorial election. But that is not in effect until November 2020.

Indiana State Senator Greg Walker has again introduced his bill to lower the number of signatures for statewide independent candidates and the nominees of unqualified parties. It is SB 106. It won’t appear on Indiana legislature’s web page until the first week in January. Thanks to George Wolfe for this news.

All five qualified parties in Missouri are entitled to have their own presidential primary. Filing closes December 24 at 5 p.m. So far no one has filed in the Constitution Party primary. Howie Hawkins is the only person who has filed in the Green Party primary. Jacob Hornberger is the only person who has filed in the Libertarian primary. See the entire list here. Missouri Secretary of State keeps a running tally.