Colorado Representative Susan Lontine (D-Denver) and Senator Stephen Fenberg (D-Boulder) have introduced HB 19-1278. It amends many election laws. It makes it more difficult for independent candidates, and the nominees of unqualified parties, to get on the ballot (except for President). It raises the U.S. House petition from 800 to 1,500. It raises the State Senate petition from 600 to 1,000. It raises the State House petition from 400 to 1,000. It raises the petition for Governor and U.S. Senator from 1,000 to 10,500, with a congressional district distribution requirement of 1,500 per district. If Colorado gains a House seat after the 2020 census, the requirement would automatically go to 12,000.

The bill has been attacked in print by Angela Myers, Larimer County Clerk & Recorder, for some of its non-related provisions. See this op-ed. Thanks to John Palmer for this news.

On April 10, attorneys for the Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters filed this Answer to the Complaint, in Soltysik v Padilla, c.d., 2:15cv-7916. On April 9, attorneys for the Californoia Secretary of State filed this Answer.

Soltysik v Padilla is the case that challenges the California law that permits some candidates, but not all candidates, to have a partisan label on the ballot next to their names.

The case was revived by the Ninth Circuit earlier this year, so now it is proceeding in U.S. District Court. Both the state answer, and the Los Angeles County answer, claim that the plaintiff, Emidio Soltysik, lacks standing. He was and is a registered Socialist. He ran for the legislature in 2014. He was forced to have “party preference: none” on the ballot next to his name.

On April 14, the Prohibition Party nominated C. L. Gammon of Tennessee for president, and Phil Collins of Nevada for vice-president. This was done with a telephone conference call. This ticket replaces the one chosen last year.