Posted at Ballot Access News
Oklahoma State Senator Randy Brogdon (R-Owasso) recently said that he will again introduce a bill to make it easier for new/minor parties to get on the ballot. It will probably be similar to his 2007 bill, SB 28, which lowered the petition from 5% of the last vote cast to a flat 5,000 signatures; and lowered the vote test from 10% to 1%.
Senator Brogdon is in his second term; he was re-elected in 2006. Because Republicans have a majority in both houses of the legislature in 2009 for the first time since Oklahoma became a state in 1907, the chances for the bill are better than in the past. All bills to improve ballot access in Oklahoma during the last ten years have had only Republican sponsors. Also, Bob Barr’s lawsuit against the Oklahoma independent presidential procedures is still pending.
Between 1924 and 1974, Oklahoma required 5,000 signatures for a new party. During those years, there was no election with more than two minor parties on the Oklahoma ballot.
More about Oklahoma Ballot Access at Next Free Voice.
Good job.