On February 4, the Arkansas Senate unanimously passed HB 1152, which moves the non-presidential independent candidate petition deadline from March 1 to May 1. Now the bill goes to the Governor. As far as is known, this is the first bill improving ballot access passed in any state’s legislature so far this year.
According to this story, on January 17, William Weld changed his registration from Libertarian to Republican.
New Mexico Representative Bill Pratt (D-Albuquerque) has introduced HB 468. It lowers the number of signatures for almost all types of candidates, whether they are running in primaries, or they are the nominees of qualified minor parties, or whether they are independent candidates.
All would need 1,000 signatures if they are running for statewide office, and 500 if running for U.S. House, and lesser amounts for other offices.
There are two ways in which this bill would make ballot access more difficult, though. It would require the presidential nominees of qualified minor parties to submit a petition; currently they do not need a petition. Also it would increase the number of signatures needed for a member of a small party that is entitled to its own primary, to get on the primary. Thanks to Bob Perls for this news.
Nebraska State Senator Sue Crawford (D-Bellevue) has introduced LB 211. It makes elections for county offices non-partisan.
The New York State Board of Elections has posted the February 1, 2019 registration data. Percentages (for active voters) are: Democratic 50.23%, Republican 22.63%, Independence 3.79%, Conservative 1.26%, Working Families .36%, Green .23%, Libertarian .08%, Women’s Equality .06%, Reform .02%, independent 21.34%. The SAM Party still didn’t have any registered members as of the date this data was compiled, but it has only just now been added to the form, so it should soon have some members.
At the last tally, for November 1, 2018, the percentages were: Democratic 49.94%, Republican 22.76%, Independence 3.83%, Conservative 1.26%, Working Families .36%, Green .24%, Libertarian .07%, Women’s Equality .05%, Reform .02%, independent 21.48%. The state web page does not have the totals for the Women’s Equality and Reform Parties, which are no longer ballot-qualified, but the state still tallies them. Thanks to William Stevenson for the link.
