Elections; candidate filing requirements. Requires independent and primary candidates to pay a filing fee for expenses equal to the greater of $50 or two percent of one year’s minimum annual salary for the office unless a candidate provides an affidavit that he is indigent. Provides a formula for calculating signatures required on candidate petitions for the House of Delegates and local elections of 0.25 percent of registered voters or 50 registered voters, whichever is greater. Retains exceptions for certain small towns and soil and water conservation districts.

YEAS–Putney, Ingram, Hargrove, Jones, S.C., Albo, Rapp, Cosgrove, Fralin, O’Bannon, Bell, Miller, J.H., Phillips, Joannou, Sickles, Dance, Englin–16.
NAYS–Marshall, R.G., Cole, Frederick, Scott, J.M., Brink, Alexander–6.
ABSTENTIONS–0.

THIS IS BAD NEWS. 2% OF THE PAY FOR A US HOUSE OR SENATE SEAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE PAID TO ACCOMPANY THE DECLARATION AND THE PETITIONS…

This is something that is directly unfair to the third party candidates. I can understand trying to defer the cost of the primaries, but to require all candidates to pay such exorbitant fees is blatantly unfair and likely unconstitutional. It is the rawest form of candidate suppression as if with half the seats unopposed, there is not already enough apathy.

Please contact your member of the House to vote against this when to comes to the floor.