South Dakota Bill to Let Independent Candidates for President Use a Stand-in for Vice-President

Posted on by January 20, 2017
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The South Dakota State Board of Elections has arranged for HB 1037 to be introduced by the South Dakota House Committee on Local Government. The bill permits an independent presidential candidate to use a stand-in for vice-president on his or her petition. The law says if the vice-presidential candidate named on the petition resigns, the presidential candidate can replace him or her with the new nominee, as long as that is done by the second Tuesday in August.

The bill gives the same freedom for an independent candidate for Governor to use a stand-in for Lieutenant Governor.

In 1980, South Dakota had been one of only two states that wouldn’t let John Anderson use a stand-in for vice-president. Anderson had sued some other states over this issue, and had won. But he didn’t get around to suing South Dakota, so the November 1980 ballot listed his stand-in instead of his actual vice-presidential running mate.

The bill also makes it clear that the presidential primary is voluntary for any ballot-qualified party.

Oklahoma Ballot Access Bills Introduced

Posted on by January 19, 2017
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On January 19, Oklahoma State Senator David Holt (R-Oklahoma City) introduced two bills to ease ballot access for new and minor parties, as well as a bill to make it easier for initiatives to get on the ballot. Senator Holt has consistently been a leader in the Oklahoma State Senate, holding many leadership posts over the last few sessions.

SB 350 makes it easier for a party to remain on the ballot. Current law requires 2.5% of the last vote for the office at the top of the ticket (either Governor or president, every two years). The bill would change to vote test to 2.5% for any statewide office, at either of the last two elections.

In the past, between 1924 and 1974, the Oklahoma vote test was 5% for any statewide race at either of the last two elections.

SB 351 changes the petition requirement for independent presidential candidates, and the presidential nominees of unqualified parties, from 3% of the last presidential vote, to either 5,000 signatures or $5,000.

SJR 18 lowers the petition for initiatives that change ordinary laws from 8% of the last gubernatorial vote, to 2%. If passed, that would give Oklahoma the lowest statewide initiative procedure of any state. Currently, Massachusetts’ 3% of the last gubernatorial vote is the lowest of any state. SJR 18 also lowers the petition for initiatives to change the State Constitution from 15% of the last gubernatorial vote, to 10%. Thanks to E. Zachary Knight for this news.