On March 12, four Alabama State Senators introduced a bill to ease ballot access. The bill, SB 221, lowers the number of signatures for independent candidates, and newly-qualifying parties, from 3% of the last gubernatorial vote, to 1.5%. That change affects petitions for Congress and state office. Petitions for partisan county office would continue to be 3%.
The bill also eases the petition deadline for newly-qualifying parties, for Congress and state office, from primary day, to the third Wednesday after the runoff primary. The deadline for petitions for county office, and for independent candidates, would not change.
The lead sponsor is Senator Cam Ward (R-Alabaster). The co-sponsors are Senator Paul Sanford (R-Huntsville), Rusty Glover (R-Semmes), and Tom Whatley (R-Auburn). Thanks to Joshua Cassity for this news.
Previously at IPR:
Libertarian Party of Alabama calls for ballot access law reforms, announces issue coalition
Alabama, Oklahoma newspapers editorialize for ballot access reform
Constitution Party: Alabama’s Ballot Access Laws Too Restrictive
Alabama Ballot Access Bill Will Be Introduced Again
Duh. I used to know that.
It’s the yellowhammer, hence the nickname “the Yellowhammer State.”
No. Phoenix rising from the ashes.
I think there is actually an Alabama bird, but the only one I know of is the one drivers shoot each other on our roads…not that this is unique to Alabama, LOL.
Is that the Alabama state bird?