The February 5 issue of the Gainesville (Georgia) Times has this feature story about a Georgia resident who has been disenfranchised by Georgia’s law requiring voters to show a government photo ID in order to vote at the polls. As the article explains, another bill is pending to require people to prove they are citizens before they can register to vote.
Texas state Representative Solomon Ortiz (D-Corpus Christi) has introduced HB 820. It lowers the number of signatures for both new parties and independent candidates. The bill provides for 500 signatures for new parties and for statewide independent candidates. District independent candidates would need 100 signatures, or 2% of the last gubernatorial vote, whichever is less. The Constitution Party of Texas did the work for bringing this bill into existence.
It is expected that another bill, ending the prohibition against a primary voter signing a minor party or independent candidate petition, will soon be introduced. That bill will probably be sponsored by Representative Mark Strama. That bill probably won’t lower the number of signatures.
Rhode Island State Senator David Bates (R-Barrington) has introduced SB 203. It lowers the petition to create a new party from 5% of the last vote cast, to 1%. It also lets the petition be circulated in an odd year. Current law says the petition can only be circulated in even-numbered years. The bill is co-sponsored by Senator Edward O’Neill, the legislature’s only independent.
On February 4, both Arkansas bills to improve ballot access for minor parties passed the House State Agencies and Government Affairs Committee. HB 1246 expands the petitioning period for new party petitions from any 60 days to any 90 days. HB 1247 improves the vote test for a party to remain on the ballot from 3% of the vote for the office at the top of the ticket (either President or Governor, depending on which year it was) to 3% for any statewide office at either of the last two elections.
On January 29, U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wisconsin) introduced a proposed Constitutional amendment, to provide that governors could no longer appoint U.S. Senators when a seat becomes vacant. Instead, special elections would be required, as is currently the case for U.S. House vacancies. Here is Senator Feingold’s press release. The SJR number is not yet available. Thanks to Jack Ross for this news. The bill is co-sponsored by Senators John McCain (R-Arizona) and Mark Begich (D-Alaska).
