On March 31, the Oklahoma House passed SB 896 by a vote of 69-15. It makes it easier for a party to remain on the ballot. Current law removes parties from the ballot when they fail to poll 10% for the office at the top of the ballot (president in presidential years, and Governor in midterm years). The bill lowers that to 2.5%. Thanks to E. Zachary Knight for this news.

The fifteen “No” votes were cast by thirteen Republicans and two Democrats. The two Democrats are Richard Morrissette and Shane Stone. The thirteen Republicans are: John Bennett, Kevin Calvey, Bobby Cleveland, Ann Coody, Dan Fisher, Randy Grau, Jadine Nollan, Terry O’Donnell, Scooter Park, Pam Peterson, Dustin Roberts, Chuck Strohm, and Justin Wood.

The House also passed SB 1108, which removes the names of candidates for presidential elector from the November ballot. Instead each polling place will have a notice telling the names of the presidential elector candidates. Assuming this bill becomes law, the only states in which the ballot will continue to list candidates for presidential elector are Arizona, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Idaho.

A new poll, like previous polls, shows that the U.S. Senate race in California in November 2016 will be between two Democrats, with no other candidates on the ballot and no write-in space. See this story.

Montana’s presidential primaries are June 7. According to this story, officials of the Ted Cruz campaign say they have examined the petition to put John Kasich on the Republican presidential primary, and they believe Kasich does not have enough valid signatures.

Montana requires 500 signatures. Any registered voter can sign. Kasich submitted 622 signatures. There is as yet no legal challenge to the Kasich petition. Thanks to Mike Fellows for this news.