On January 23, the Virginia Senate Privileges and Elections Committee passed SB 690 by a vote of 10-5. This is the bill that eases the petition requirement for all presidential candidates, whether they are running in a presidential primary, or are petitioning to get on the November ballot. It cuts the number of signatures from 10,000 to 5,000.

The eight Republicans on the Committee supported the bill by a margin of 7-1. The Democrats on the Committee were split, with 3 supporting the bill and 4 opposing it. Thanks to Tom Yager for this news.

Nebraska State Senator John Murante (R-Gretna) has introduced LB 349, which changes procedures for independent presidential candidates to get on the ballot. Existing law does not permit an independent presidential candidate to begin to circulate a petition until after the May primary, and does not permit primary voters to sign. The bill eliminates the restriction on which registered voters can sign. It also eliminates the restriction on when such a petition may begun to circulate. However, it moves the deadline from the end of August to August 1.

The Secretary of State backs this bill. The current restriction that bars primary voters from signing for an independent presidential candidate causes extra work for the petition-verification process. Also the restriction is irrational, because there is no primary screenout for any other petitions in Nebraska. Petitions to create a new ballot-qualified party, and petitions for independent candidates for other office, have no primary screenout.

If the bill passes, Texas will be the only state that bars primary voters from signing any type of ballot access petition.

The New York City Board of Elections is considering Instant-Runoff Voting for citywide elective office. See this story. The interest is sparked by the urgent need to find some solution to the problem that existing law requires run-off primaries in certain instances, and yet given the September date for city primaries, there isn’t enough time for a run-off if overseas absentee voters are to participate. Thanks to Michael Drucker for the link.