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.

On February 19, the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First District, affirmed the ruling of a lower court and required the Redistricting Commission to redraw the boundaries of two U.S. House districts. Williams v Board of Elections of New York, 2026-444. This is a win for Democrats because it makes it unlikely that New York city’s only Republican U.S. House member will be able to win re-election. It is not thought likely that the State Court of Appeals will take this case, but there is a possibility that the U.S. Supreme Court would get involved.

On February 18, the Connecticut Law Tribune published an editorial, “Connecticut Should Ease Restrictions to Ballot Access”. It says that it is too difficult for candidates to get on primary ballots, and suggests that the restrictions might violate the State Constitution. The editorial is behind a pay wall.

For candidates who cannot get the support of 15% of the delegates at a party meeting, a petition of 2% of the number of the party’s registrants is needed for statewide and U.S. House candidates. The signatures must be gathered in only six weeks. For candidates for the legislature and local office, 5% is needed, in only 14 days.