Most of the Texas Bills That Restrict Ballot Access Seem Unlikely to Pass

Posted on by May 16, 2023
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Many bills are pending in the Texas legislature to make ballot access for minor parties and/or independent candidates worse, but only one of them appears likely to pass. That bill is SB 994, which pertains to filing fees for parties that nominate by convention. It has passed the Senate and will soon get a vote in the House. It would re-impose filing fees for candidates who seek the nomination of a convention party (i.e., Libertarian and Green Parties). The law already provides for such fees, but technical problems with the old law have prevented it from going into effect ever since it was passed a few years ago.

Restrictive bills not likely to pass include SB 1660, raising the vote test for a party to remain on the ballot to 10%; SB 1705, to require all qualified parties to nominate by primary; SB 2532, to double filing fees; SB 2271, also to double filing fees.

Turkish Presidential Election

Posted on by May 15, 2023
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Turkey held a presidential election on May 14, 2023. Parties that had polled as much as 5% of the vote in the preceding parliamentary election were on the ballot automatically. Others needed 100,000 signatures by March 27. Eleven candidates tried to petition, but only two obtained enough signatures. Four candidates were on the ballot: two qualified under the 5% vote test, and two by petition.

No one received a majority, so there is a run-off on March 28. Here is the wikipedia page about the election.

Missouri Legislature Fails to Pass Bills that Injure Initiative Process

Posted on by May 13, 2023
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On May 12, the Missouri legislature adjourned, without passing bills that would have made it more difficult for statewide initiatives to get on the ballot or to pass. The bills that failed to pass include HJR 43, which would have raised the vote needed to pass a constitutional amendment from a majority, to either 57% or 60%.

Also SB 102 and SB 490, both of which would have required initiative circulators to be registered Missouri voters, failed to pass. SB 490 would also have banned paying circulators per-signature. Thanks to Ken Bush for this news.

Lawsuit Filed to Prevent Proposed Ohio Constitutional Amendment From Being on the August 8, 2023 Ballot

Posted on by May 13, 2023
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On May 12, some Ohio voters filed a lawsuit in the State Supreme Court to stop the state from holding a vote on August 8, 2023, on a proposed constitutional amendment that would raise the support from a majority, to 60% of the vote. State ex rel One Person One Vote v LaRose, 2023-0630.

The lawsuit points out that the Ohio election code does not permit statewide ballot measures to be held in August elections. Although the Ohio legislature recently passed a resolution for the new constitutional language, it did not pass the companion bill to allow statewide ballot measures on an August ballot. Resolutions cannot change the statutes and need not be signed by the Governor. Here is the Complaint.

The legislative majority clearly wanted to hold the vote on whether to raise the vote to 60% in August, because it wants to stop an initiative that is being circulated now (concerning abortion) and which will probably qualify to be on the November 2023 ballot.