On April 4, the Idaho Senate passed HB 275 unanimously. The bill is now through the legislature. Among other unrelated election law changes, it lowers the number of signatures for an independent presidential candidate from approximately 6,000 signatures, to exactly 1,000. Also it makes it legal for out-of-state circulators to work on an independent presidential petition.
Idaho is the third state in which a bill improving ballot access for minor parties or independents has passed a state legislature so far this year. The others are Nebraska and New Mexico.
Is there any idea on whether the Governor will be friendly to the bill, or is there a fear of a veto?
There is no fear of a veto. Idaho must make these ballot access improvements because last year a U.S. District Court invalidated the old law.
Sounds great.