Current California law says that anyone who is eligible to register to vote may circulate a candidate or an initiative petition. SB 408 would say that individuals who are not registered to vote may not circulate a petition unless they had been eligible to register to vote at the time of the last election. It was introduced on February 21 by Senator Jenny Oropeza (D-Carson).
On February 24, the Montana Senate passed SB 96 by a vote of 42-8. It makes it illegal for non-residents to circulate an initiative petition, and prohibits paying circulators on a per-signature basis.
On February 28, HB 687 was introduced in the Illinois house. It relaxes the law that requires qualified parties to certify their presidential and vice-presidential candidates by the end of August. Since the Republican Party’s national convention won’t choose the national ticket until September 3 and 4, this bill is needed, to make sure the Republican Party’s national ticket appears on the November 2008 Illinois ballot. Similar bills will be needed in four other states.
On February 28, ten Oregon state representatives introduced HB 3040, to legalize fusion. Six of the sponsors are Democrats and four are Republicans.
There will soon be a fusion bill in Maine as well.
The Constitution Party’s national committee will meet in Boise, Idaho, April 20-21, 2007. The committee will choose the location of the party’s 2008 national convention, which will be in the spring of 2008.
