The Feb. 24, 2014 edition of the weekly “The Nation” will include this call to arms by the editors, pledging to support efforts to reform election laws and practices in the U.S., including better ballot access laws. Thanks to Independent Political Report for the link.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer has this story, on the extent to which the Libertarian Party is growing stronger in Ohio.
This article explains why Texas will play a dominant role in the 2016 Republican presidential selection process.
On February 7, the New Mexico Senate Rules Committee passed SB 125, with only one “no” vote. It makes several ballot access improvements: (1) moves the petition deadline for a newly-qualifying party from April to late June; (2) lowers the number of signatures in midterm years for a different type of petition, a “nominee” petition; (3) sets up a procedure, a petition of one-half of 1% of the last gubernatorial vote, for an unqualified party to appear on the November ballot for president only.
The petition referred to in (2) above is a unique New Mexico type of petition. After a ballot-qualified minor party nominates candidates, then each nominee (except presidential nominees) must collect the signatures of 1% of the last vote cast. The bill lowers the number in midterm years, by making the number of signatures equal to 1% of the last gubernatorial vote. This change has no effect in presidential years, but would lower the 2014 (and other midterm years) from approximately 8,000 signatures for a statewide office, to approximately 6,000.
Here is a link to the text of HR 20, the bill introduced in the U.S. House on February 5 to establish public funding of campaigns for the U.S. House.
