On January 25, the House State Administration Committee unanimously passed HB 120. It moves the independent petition deadline (for office other than President) from March to May. It also lets individuals file as independent presidential or vice-presidential candidates, even if they have run for office under a party label during the previous year. And it restores the primary for all ballot-qualified parties that have at least two candidates for the same office.

The same committee, on the same day, defeated HB 108, which would have required voters at the polls to show a government photo-ID. But the Committee passed HB 30, which eliminates the ability of individuals to register to vote on primary day. Instead everyone must register no later than the Friday before the election.

Oklahoma Representative Gary Banz (R-Midwest City) has introduced HB 1533. It provides that each U.S. House district should elect its own presidential elector.

Writer Mark Vanhoenacker, who lives in New York state, has this interesting article in Slate about U.S. ballot design, and why so many U.S. ballots are confusing. He compares some U.S. ballots with European ballots, and a sidebar lets readers look at ballots from some other countries.

Many states do have clear ballots. It happens that New York and New Jersey have the poorest ballot design of any states, at least relative to the part of ballots that includes candidates. Thanks to ElectionUpdates for the link.