On February 13, a subcommittee of the Iowa State Government Committee passed HSB 697. It limits challenges to the ballot position of federal candidates. It says, “Objections to the eligibility of a candidate for a federal office shall not be sustained unless the objection is limited to the legal insufficiency of the nominating petition or certificate of nomination, or to the residency, age, or citizenship reqauirements as described in the Constitution of the United States.”

The bill is sponsored by Representative Jane Bloomingdale (R-Northwood) and was suggested by Secretary of State Paul Pate, a Republican. It would make it impossible for anyone to challenge the ballot position of a federal candidate on insurrection grounds.

On February 14, the Minnesota Secretary of State filed this brief in Martin v Simon, the case in the State Supreme Court filed by the Democratic Party to remove the Legal Marijuana Now Party from the 2024 ballot. The Secretary of State says he is neutral, but notes that he doesn’t have the authority to remove the party from this year’s ballots.

Also he says his attorneys have talked to attorneys for the Democratic Party, and everyone concerned agrees that it is too late to cancel the Legal Marijuana Now Party’s presidential primary, which will be in March.

On January 29, the Utah Senate passed SB 107, which moves the petition deadline for independent candidates from January to June 15. On February 12, it passed the House Rules Committee.

As far as is known, this is the first bill to ease ballot access restrictions that has made any headway so far this year. The bill is a result of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s federal lawsuit.