On December 9, Virginia Delegate Sam Rasoul (D-Roanoke) introduced HB 82, which eases the definition of a “political party.” Current law says it is a group that polled at least 10% for any statewide race at either of the last two elections. The bill changes that to 5%.

If the bill were enacted in 2016, it would have the result of putting the Libertarian Party on the ballot for 2016. The party polled 6.55% for Governor in 2013. There was also a statewide election in 2014, but no statewide office was up in 2015, so a showing in 2013 would have counted for both 2014 and 2016.

Rasoul introduced the same bill in 2015, except that he used 4%. That bill was HB 1463, and it did not pass.

On December 9, filing closed for Idaho presidential primaries. Thirteen Republicans filed. See the list here. The most presidential candidates in an Idaho Republican Party in the past had been five, in 1980. Also three candidates filed in the Constitution Party presidential primary.

The Democratic and Libertarian Parties aren’t holding presidential primaries in Idaho in 2016.

George Pataki and Jim Gilmore didn’t file for the Republican presidential primary. Anyone could qualify by paying $1,000.

Twelve Republican presidential candidates and seven Democratic presidential candidates filed for the Oklahoma presidential primaries. This is the largest number of Republicans in an Oklahoma presidential primary in history; the previous high for Republicans was eleven in 1988.

Here is the list of candidates from the Oklahoma State Board of Elections webpage. If one scrolls down, one can see copies of each candidate’s filing, which includes the candidate’s home address and date of birth, details which seem somewhat invasive of the candidates’ privacy. Also one can see each candidate’s signature. Donald Trump’s signature is interesting.