The Montana Free Press has this story about the dramatic defeat of SB 565 on Thursday evening, April 27.
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On the evening of April 27, the Montana House defeated SB 565 by a vote of 39-60. This is the bill that increased the petition requirements for newly-qualifying parties, independent presidential candidates, and independent candidates for other office. It also increased the vote test for a party to remain on the ballot. Thanks to Apollo Pazell for this news.
On April 26, the Oklahoma legislature passed SB 375, which moves the non-presidential primary from the last Tuesday in June to the third Tuesday in June. Filing for primary candidates, and also for non-presidential independents, moves a week earlier also. In 2024 the candidate filing deadline will be April 5.
On April 24, Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed SB 379, which moves the 2024 primary for all office from April to the second Tuesday in May. The bill only pertains to 2024, not to years beyond that.
On April 26, a settlement was arranged in the federal lawsuit Gaughen v Dauphin County, m.d., 1:23cv-77. The case had been filed in Pennsylvania earlier this year, over the problem that Dauphin County officials had barred candidates from collecting signatures to get on the ballot in a public park. The county’s excuse had been that when the family that deeded the land to the public, it had specified that no political activity could be allowed in the park.
The plaintiffs were candidates of the Keystone Party, which did get on the ballot for statewide office in Pennsylvania last year. The county decided to settle the lawsuit, and the plaintiffs received $91,000. Here is the brief filed by the plaintiffs earlier this year. It can serve as a resource for individuals in the future who file similar lawsuits. Thanks to Andy Jacobs for this news.