On February 20, the New Mexico Senate Judiciary Committee passed SB 180, after it had been amended to double the number of signatures for the nominees of minor party conventions. The bill raises them from 1% to 2% except for a very small number of offices. SB 180 is a very lengthy bill. The minor party change was amended into it and is on page 81 of the bill. Thanks to the New Mexico Green Party for this news.
On December 23, 2022, an Alaska state trial court issued in opinion in Kowalke v Eastman, 3AN-22-07404. It says that Representative David Eastman is not disqualified from serving in the legislature, even though he attended the January 6, 2021 event at the national capitol and even though he is a member of Oath Keepers. The ruling says Eastman did not have the intent to overthrow the government.
The lawsuit had been based on Alaska Constitution Article 12, section 4. Here is the opinion.
That part of the Alaska Constitution says “No person who advocates, or who aids or belongs to any party or organization or association which advocates, the overthrow by force or violence of the government of the United States or of the State shall be qualified to hold any public office of trust or profit under this constitution.”
On February 20, the New Mexico Senate passed SB 73 by 27-10. It lets independent voters choose a primary ballot, even without having to join that party.
This newspaper story says there are more than 200 election law bills pending in the Texas legislature. Unfortunately, there are no bills to ease ballot access, which is among the worst in the nation.
But there is a bill to add the statewide initiative process, SJR 25. The sponsor is Senator Nathan Johnson (D-Dallas). Thanks to Linda Curtis for that news.
This story says the rally concerning foreign policy in Washington, D.C., on February 19, attracted between 1,000 and 3,000 attendees. Tow former minor party presidential nominees, Ron Paul and Jill Stein, were among the speakers.
