Ralph Nader’s 2004 Hawaii ballot access case has been in the 9th circuit since last year. The chief issue is whether it is constitutional for Hawaii to require six times as many signatures for an independent presidential candidate as for an entire new party. Last year the 9th circuit put the case on hold, to see if the legislature would alter the law for independent presidential candidates. However, no bill on that subject was ever introduced, and it is far too late for such a bill to be introduced now. The Hawaii legislature adjourns May 7. At that time the lawsuit will be active again.

The only bill introduced this year in the Hawaii legislature that has any possible impact on minor parties or independent candidates is SB 680. That is a proposed constitutional amendment that would impose registration by party. However, it has made no headway.

This year, there is a tendency for state legislatures to spend little time on election law issues. This is largely because almost all state legislatures that are still in session are preoccupied with budget issues.

On March 31, the Oregon Senate Elections Committee holds a hearing on two bills to improve independent candidate ballot access. They are SB 326 and SB 353. SB 326 repeals the law (passed in 2005) that says primary voters can’t sign for an independent petition. SB 353 reduces the number of signatures for independent candidates from 1% of the last presidential vote to one-half that amount. Thanks to Dan Meek for this news.

The 2005 bill, restricting who can sign an independent candidate petition, was passed in a fit of pique by certain legislators who didn’t like Ralph Nader. Nader had tried to petition as an independent candidate in Oregon in 2004, before the restriction had been passed. Even though his 2004 independent petition failed, people who didn’t like his 2004 run for president were so opposed to his candidacy, that in a fit of emotion, they made independent candidate access more difficult.