On May 25, the New York Legislature passed A1819, which says no party may use “Independence” or “Independent” as part of its name. The legislature still hasn’t sent that bill to Governor Kathy Hochul. New York seems to be unique in the vast amount of delay between the legislature passing a bill, and forwarding it on to the Governor.
Someone running for president in 2024 as an independent, or as the nominee of a new party, will need 652,177 valid signatures, if the laws don’t change. That assumes the candidate uses the easier method in each state.
In 2020, the national total was 568,689, which was substantially lower than the 2024 figure. The increase is due partly to the fact that in 2020, because of covid, Illinois, Virginia, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and New York reduced the statutory requirements for 2020 only.
Also, since 2020, Arkansas and Iowa have increased the petition requirement.
For purposes of this compilation, the California easier requirement is deemed to be collecting 219,403 signatures on an independent petition, rather than getting an estimated 75,000 registered party members. Both alternatives are very difficult, and a reasonable person could argue about which is more difficult. It would be very desirable if California would reduce the independent presidential petition. That procedure has not been used since 1992.
On November 23, the Alaska Division of Elections finished the ranked choice tabulation and posted the results on its website. See here. On the far right, choose “Ranked Choice Voting Tabulations”.
The U.S. House race included a Libertarian, Chris Bye. The report shows that his voters made these second-choice votes: Nick Begich 1,988; Sarah Palin 1,064; Mary Peltola 1,030; no second choice 901. Thanks to Tony Roza for the link.
In the 32 jurisdictions that provide for registration by party, the figures for October 2022 show that the share of voters registered in minor parties and as independents has hit a new high. 31.67% of registered voters in those places are not members of either the Republican or Democratic Party.
In past even-year October tallies, the number of registrants outside the two major parties has been: 2020 30.82%; 2018 30.90%; 2016 30.03%; 2014 29.04%; 2012 28.05%; 2010 26.44%; 2008 25.66%; 2006 25.97%; 2004 25.02%.
The data will be printed in the December 1, 2022 Ballot Access News, by state and by party.
This story about the Working Families Party in Tompkins County, New York, says the party received 13.2% of the county’s gubernatorial vote in the November 8, 2022 election. The story says this was the party’s strongest county in the state. Tompkins County is upstate and contains Ithaca.
