On April 22, the Oklahoma House passed SJR 13, which would lower the number of signatures needed for an initiative in mid-term election years (although the voters would also need to approve the idea, since the number of signatures is in the State Constitution). Current law requires an initiative that changes a statute to obtain signatures of 8% of the last vote cast. SJR 13 lowers this to 8% of the last gubernatorial vote.

The number of voters in a gubernatorial election year is generally only about two-thirds as high as the number of voters in a presidential election year.

SJR 13 needs a re-vote in the State Senate before it is completely through the legislature. But since it had passed unanimously in its first vote in the State Senate, it seems very likely to pass.

On April 22, the Washington legislature passed HB 1517. It permits ex-felons who still haven’t finished paying off any fines or restitution payments to register to vote. However, if they have missed 3 monthly payments within a year, they again lose their voting rights. The old law says ex-felons can register to vote only if they don’t owe any fines or restitution payments.

On April 22, the New Hampshire Senate passed HB 35, which eliminates the vice-presidential part of the presidential primary ballot. The House had already passed it. New Hampshire has been the only state that ever held a vice-presidential primary.