On August 25, Senate Bill 1015 passed the California Assembly Appropriations Committee. It legalizes write-in votes in which the voter forgets to “X” the box next to the name written in. The vote was 13-4.
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During the early morning hours of August 24, the North Carolina House passed H88, the ballot access bill. Unfortunately, it was amended so that it does more harm than good. The bill does lower the number of signatures needed for a statewide independent from 2% of the number of registered voters to 2% of the last gubernatorial vote, but this is required by a court decision last year anyway. The only other improvement it makes is to lower the vote test (for a party to remain on the ballot) from 10% to 7%. But it makes existing law more restrictive by moving the petition deadline two months earlier, and requiring the nominees of parties that nominate by convention to pay filing fees. The bill cannot pass this year anyway, since the Senate has gone home. However, the bill remains alive and could pass next year.
H88, the best ballot access bill in North Carolina, passed out of the House Finance Committee today overwhelmingly. This is the bill that lowers the statewide minor party and independent candidate petitions to one-half of 1% of the last gubernatorial vote (approximately 17,500 signatures). The bill will probably pass if only the legislature stays in session long enough.
A few weeks ago, the Arkansas Attorney General issued an opinion denying that it is legal for parties to circulate a petition during odd years. However, the Secretary of State’s legal advisor says that the Secretary of State does not agree with that opinion, and will not follow it.
A few weeks ago, the Arkansas Attorney General issued an opinion denying that it is legal for parties to circulate a petition during odd years. However, the Secretary of State’s legal advisor says that the Secretary of State does not agree with that opinion, and will not follow it.