From Ballot Access News:
The Oklahoman for March 13 has two letters to the editor, advocating that the legislature pass HB 1072, the ballot access bill. See them at this link. Thanks to Micah Gamino for the link.
Regarding “Access endeavor” (ScissorTales, March 6): It’s not entirely accurate that Oklahoma’s lawmakers have made “no” indication that they want to open up the state’s ballots to third parties. House Bill 1072, which would help do just that, passed in both chambers of the Legislature last year by a combined vote of 132-5, including unanimous support in the Senate. I’d say that constitutes an interest in passing some level of ballot-access reform.But would such a change actually constitute “reform”? Even at 3 percent of the last vote for governor, Oklahoma’s signature requirements for third party ballot access would remain one of the highest in the nation, coming into line only with Alabama, also at 3 percent. So perhaps The Oklahoman is correct. Perhaps this shows a reluctance on the part of the Legislature to give third parties anything that resembles fair play.
Fate of the bill is now in the hands of a conference committee, which, in the end, may very well get cold feet and either pass this watered-down version of “reform” or nothing at all. The people of Oklahoma can’t let that happen. Oklahoma needs an infusion of competition into its electoral arena.
Micah Gamino, Oklahoma City
Gamino is vice chairman of Oklahomans for Ballot Access Reform.