The March 12 Birmingham News has this editorial, strongly endorsing SB 17, the bill that lowers the number of signatures needed for minor parties and independent candidates to get on the ballot. Thanks to Bill Van Allen for the link.
Ballot Access News
Edited By Richard Winger
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I just read SB 17 on the Alabama Senate website. Unless this bill was amended in committee, as Senator Ward indicated he would attempt, it still does not appear to address the problem with an independent candidate for Congress in some districts having to get more signatures than an independent candidate for President(5,000 signatures)obtains statewide. The language of the bill only refers to independent “statewide” candidates having to get 1 and 1/2 percent of the signatures equal to voters, etc., where independent “county” officer seekers still have to get the 3 percent threshold. No mention of congressional or even legislative offices.
Richard, do you or anyone have a more and better update on this?
Don, you must not have seen the Committee Substitute for SB 17. I just now looked at it on the Alabama legislature’s web page and it is there, 5,000 signatures for statewide minor parties, and a better filing deadline, a beautiful sight.