On January 8, two Wyoming legislators introduced HB 96, which makes it easier for a party to remain ballot-qualified. The bill says that when a party meets the vote test, it is then qualified for the next two elections, not just the next election. The sponsors are Representative Kendell Kroeker (R-Evansville) and Senator Cale Case (R-Lander).

This idea is especially relevant to Wyoming, because unlike a majority of states, not every statewide office counts toward meeting the vote test. The only offices that count are U.S. House, Governor, or Secretary of State. Of those three offices, only the first is up in presidential years. But in midterm years, the vote for three offices can be used to keep a party on the ballot.

Other states that provide for four years of qualification, instead of just two, after the retention test is met, are Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Those states apply the idea, no matter whether the vote test is met in a midterm year or a presidential year. Separate from those states, these are the states in which meeting the vote test lasts four years, but it only works if the vote test is met in a midterm year: Indiana, New York, South Dakota. These are the states in which meeting the vote test lasts four years but it only works if the test is met in a presidential year: Kentucky, North Carolina, and West Virginia.

The Country Party did the work of finding sponsors for this Wyoming bill.

Washington, D.C., holds a special election for city council-at-large on April 23. In special elections in Washington, for this office, parties don’t have nominees. Individuals who wish to appear on the ballot must collect 3,000 signatures during the period December 6 through January 23. This news story says that because it is winter, even well-known candidates are struggling with the petition requirement. Any registered voter can sign for any candidate, regardless of party affiliation.

Sixteen individuals have taken out blank petition forms. They include 13 Democrats, one Republican, one Green, and one independent. Each needs 3,000 signatures. If this were a regular election for this office, there would be a partisan primary, and to get on the ballot in that partisan primary, Democrats would need 2,000 signatures of party members; Republicans would need 296 signatures of party members; and Greens would need 41 signatures of party members.

The vacancy exists because former City council-at-large member Phil Mendelson resigned to become Chair of the City Council, which had become vacant because of another resignation.