Newsgrowl Publishes Definitive Article on Georgia Ballot Access Laws

Posted on by February 5, 2019
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Newsgrowl has this comprehensive article about the Georgia ballot access laws for minor party and independent candidates, showing how they came into existence and how bad they are. The story also shows how the large newspapers in Georgia have failed to cover the story, and particularly how hostile the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has been to minor parties and independent candidates.

Newsgrowl is an on-line publication founded in January 2018. Although it covers news from around the world, it has a particular speciality covering state legislatures. Read this to learn more about Newsgrowl.

Arkansas Bill, Improving Non-Presidential Independent Petition Deadline, Passes Legislature

Posted on by February 4, 2019
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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.

New Mexico Bill to Ease Number of Signatures for Almost All Types of Candidates

Posted on by February 4, 2019
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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.