South Carolina Senator A. Shane Massey (R-Edgefield) has introduced SB 205, to include write-in space on general election ballots for President. South Carolina has only had government-printed ballots starting in 1950. It has always had write-in space for all office except President.
Other states that allow write-ins for other office in general elections, but not for president, are Alaska, Arkansas and New Mexico.
Only three states omit the first names of presidential and vice-presidential nominees from general election ballots: Massachusetts, North Dakota, and South Dakota. On January 17, the North Dakota House passed HB 1099, which provides that first names of presidential candidates should be included on the ballot.
New York Assemblymember Patrick Burke, a Democrat, has introduced A4094. It would abolish fusion, except for Governor and President. Also it would create an office-group format. New York currently uses a party-column format. The only other states that still have a party-column format are New Hampshire, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Delaware.
New Hampshire Representatives James Russell Muirhead and Jim Maggiore have introduced HB 714, to establish a top-two system. Both are Democrats.
On February 5, the Mississippi House passed HB 38. It changes the order of candidates on general election ballots. Current law puts all the party nominees on the ballot in alphabetical order of surname. Thus, in November 2024, the order of the party nominees for president was Kamala Harris, Chase Oliver, Jill Stein, and Donald Trump. The independent presidential candidates were listed below the party nominees, also in alphabetical order.
The bill says the nominees of parties that got at least 10% of the presidential vote in the last election are listed first on the ballot, again in alphabetical order. The nominees of other parties were be listed next, also in alphabetical order, followed by independent candidates.
The bill passed 93-16. All 16 “no” votes were cast by Democrats.
