On February 7, the Maine House Committee that hears election law bills heard testimony on LD254 and LD329. Both bills got a good reception, with no opposition speakers. On February 9 the same committee will meet again to decide whether to pass the bills. They both make it easier for a party to remain on the ballot. One lowers the vote test from 5% to 1%, and the other bill provides that a party stays on the ballot (regardless of its vote) if its registration membership is at least 5,000 members.

The Secretary of State of Arkansas has ruled that a group may circulate a petition to qualify a new party, at any time. However, the petition must be completed within 150 days, or approximately 5 months.

Formerly, the petition to create a new party could only be circulated in an odd year, between January and May.

It is an advantage that a group can circulate the petition to qualify as a party during an odd year, because paid petitioners charge much less money during odd years, because there isn’t as much work for them to do.

No group has ever qualified as a party by petition in Arkansas, except the Reform Party in 1996. Before 1971 Arkansas didn’t require a petition; a group merely applied, and gained status as a party by that simple request.

There is still as dispute as to how many signatures are needed to qualify a new party in Arkansas. In 1996 a federal court ruled that the number needed for a new party cannot exceed 10,000 (which is the number needed for a non-presidential statewide independent). Even though the state didn’t appeal this decision, the state claims that it need not obey the court ruling.

The Arizona State Senate Judiciary Committee will hear SB 1218 on the afternoon of Jan. 31. The hearing convenes at 1:30 pm, but SB 1218 will probably not be brought up until about 3:30 pm. SB 1218, sec. 6, says that if an independent candidate tries and fails to get on the ballot, then he or she can’t be a write-in candidate either. The bill seems aimed at Nader supporters. Nader tried and failed to qualify as an independent. Later, he filed for write-ins and status and received 2,773 write-in votes. If this bill had been in effect, these votes would not have been counted.

If you wish to oppose SB 1218, you can fax the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, John Huppenthal, at 602-417-3157. His e-mail is jhuppenthal@azleg.state.az.us.