Connecticut Representative Tim Bowles (D-Preston) has introduced a bill to lower the statewide independent candidate petition, and the statewide petition for newly-qualifying parties, from 7,500 signatures, to 5,000 signatures. The bill doesn’t have a bill number yet.

In 2012, the only statewide minor party or independent petitions that succeeded were the Libertarian Party’s petition for President and U.S. Senate, and the Independent Party’s U.S. Senate petition. Thanks to Mike DeRosa for this news.

On January 28, the Virginia Senate passed SB 690 by a vote of 23-17. This is the bill that lowers the number of signatures for presidential candidates (both presidential primary candidates, and general election candidates) from 10,000 signatures to 5,000. Republicans overwhelmingly backed the bill, by 17-3. Democrats were mostly opposed; six Democrats voted for the bill but fourteen voted against it.

The six Democrats who voted for the bill were these Senators: Charles Colgan, Creigh Deeds, Adam Ebbin, John Edwards, Ralph Northam, and Phillip Puckett.

The three Republicans who voted against the bill were these Senators: Ryan McDougle, Jeffrey McWaters, and William Stanley. Thanks to Kevin Hayes for this news.