Vermont is one of a minority of states which permits write-ins, but which has no procedure for a write-in candidate to file a declaration of candidacy. Therefore, under Vermont law, all write-ins must be counted. Since most write-ins in most races are somewhat unserious, that causes lots of work for elections officials. The Vermont Secretary of State had tried to get a bill introduced, providing that Vermont should also have a law requiring write-in candidates who want their write-ins tallied to file a declaration of write-in candidacy. Then, the towns would only need to tally write-ins for declared write-in candidates. However, no such bill was introduced this year.

Oklahoma’s legislature has advanced two bills that make it easier to get initiatives on the ballot. On March 10, the House passed HB 2246 by 90-4. It increases the petitioning period for an initiative from 90 days to one year.

SJR 13 passed the State Senate unanimously on March 4. It lowers the number of signatures for an initiative in midterm years, by changing the base for calculating the number of signatures from the last vote cast, to the last gubernatorial vote cast.