Ten Maryland State Senators have introduced SB 77, to provide for rotation of names of candidates on ballots. Currently, Maryland puts candidates on primary ballots in alphabetical order, and puts candidates on general elections according to party strength.
16 states use straight-ticket devices on general election ballots. However, in 5 of those states, bills are pending to abolish the device. Those 5 states are Kentucky, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
The Kentucky bill, SB 53, is sponsored by the state’s only independent legislator, Senator Bob Leeper of Paducah. The New Mexico bill, SB 52, is sponsored by a Republican, Steve Komadina, so it probably won’t make any headway (since the New Mexico legislature has a Democratic majority). Republicans tend to be opposed to straight-ticket devices and Democrats tend to be for them, but there are exceptions. The New Hampshire Senate, controlled by Democrats, has already passed the anti-straight-ticket bill.
South Carolina Rep. Wallace Scarborough (R-Charleston) has introduced H3230, to ban fusion. It has a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, Feb. 20, at 2:30 pm.
On February 2, Maryland State Senators Paul Pinsky (D-Hyattsville) and Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) introduced SB 545, which would permit two or more parties to jointly nominate the same candidate. For example, if this bill had been law in 2006, Kevin Zeese (a candidate for U.S. Senate) could have been listed on the November ballot three times: once as a Green, once as a Libertarian, and once as a Populist. A voter who wanted to vote for Zeese could have chosen any of those labels.
Kentucky Representatives Kathy Stein (D-Lexington) and Jim Wayne (D-Louisville) have introduced HB 55, to establish public funding for legislative candidates. The bill treats all candidates alike, regardless of a candidate’s partisan affiliation. Candidates for State Senate would qualify by receiving at least $10 from 275 residents of their district; candidates for State House would need such contributions from 100 residents of their district. Qualifying State Senate candidates would receive $54,000; State House candidates would receive $20,000.
