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Virginia Bill, Easing Definition of “Political Party”, Fails to Pass Committee

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Richard WingerJanuary 22, 2015

On January 22, a subcommittee of the Virginia House Privileges & Elections Committee heard testimony on HB 1463, which changes the definition of “Political party” from a group that at least 10% for a statewide race at either of the last two elections, to one that got at least 4%. Four witnesses testified, all in favor of the bill. However, the subcommittee then voted to postpone the bill indefinitely, which is a way of killing the bill without any actually voting “no.” Thanks to Bill Redpath for this news.

Third Circuit Will Hear Balsam v Guadagno on March 17, Tuesday

Posted on January 21, 2015 by Richard WingerJanuary 21, 2015

The Third Circuit will hear Balsam v Guadagno, 14-3882, on Tuesday, March 17, probably in Philadelphia. This is the case in which some voters argue that the U.S. Constitution does not permit states to pay for partisan primaries unless all voters are permitted to vote in those primaries. Some of the voters are independents. Others are members of the Democratic or Republican Parties, but they say they would rather not be members of those parties and they just register that way so they can vote in New Jersey partisan primaries.

New Jersey law lets independent voters join a party on primary day, at the polls, and then they can vote in one of the primaries. That voter is then free to re-register as an independent immediately after voting in the primary. Thanks to Shawn Griffiths for the news about the hearing date.

Oklahoma Bills to Ease Ballot Access for Initiatives

Posted on January 21, 2015 by Richard WingerJanuary 21, 2015

Oklahoma Representative John Montgomery (R-Lawton) has introduced HB 1159, which expands the amount of time for initiative proponents to circulate their petition from 90 days to 150 days.

Oklahoma Senator David Holt (R-Oklahoma City) has introduced SJR 13, to lower the number of signatures for statewide initiatives. Currently, initiatives to change the State Constitution need 15% of the last gubernatorial vote, and statutory initiatives need 8%. The bill would lower those to 10% and 2%. If the bill passed, Oklahoma would have the nation’s easiest statewide initiative for making statute changes. Currently Massachusetts has the easiest, 3% of the last gubernatorial vote. SJR 13, even if passed by the legislature, would not go into effect until after the voters had approved it. Thanks to E. Zachary Knight for this news.

South Dakota Senate Committee Postpones a Vote on SB 69 Until Friday, January 23

Posted on January 21, 2015 by Richard WingerJanuary 21, 2015

The South Dakota Senate State Affairs heard testimony on SB 69 on Wednesday, January 21. This bill moves the deadline for a newly-qualifying party from March to February, even though in 1984 the state settled out of court and agreed that it would no longer require such petitions in February. The 1984 legislature had moved the deadline to April, but the 2007 legislature had then moved it to March.

The committee heard testimony that the bill should be amended, to allow newly-qualifying parties to submit petitions later in the year, and nominate by convention. Currently South Dakota is the only state in the nation in which it is impossible for a previously unqualified party to have its presidential nominee on the November ballot, with the party label, unless it qualified in time to participate in a primary. The committee will vote on the bill on Friday, January 23.

Oklahoma Bill to Ease Ballot Access

Posted on January 21, 2015 by Richard WingerJanuary 21, 2015

Oklahoma State Senator David Holt (R-Oklahoma City) has introduced SB 318. It lowers the number of signatures needed for a newly-qualifying party to get on the ballot, and also lowers the number of signatures for an independent presidential candidate, or the presidential nominee of an unqualified party, to get on the ballot.

Currently, the party petition is 5% of the last vote cast. The bill lowers that to 2% of the last vote cast. Currently the independent presidential petition, and the petition for the presidential nominee of an unqualified party, is 3% of the last presidential vote. The bill lowers those to 2% of the last presidential vote. The bill also changes the petition deadline for the presidential petitions from July 15 to July 1.

If the bill were enacted, the 2016 petition requirement for new party petitions would be 16,967 valid signatures.

Senator Holt is the Majority Whip of the Senate. Thanks to E. Zacheery Knight for this news.