Free & Equal Applauds West Virginia Legislator,

Urges Governor to Sign Into Law        

On April 11th, the West Virginia Senate passed an improved ballot access bill, lowering the signature requirements to place Independent and Third Party candidates on the ballot. The bill has already passed the House, and awaits the signature of Governor Joe Manchin.

Free & Equal applauds the West Virginia Legislator for putting aside partisan struggles and passing a bill that significantly reduces the hurdles that Independent and Third Party candidates must jump through to place their names on the ballot. This bill is the most significant ballot access legislation that has passed any state legislature this year.

WV HB 2981 lowers the petition signature requirement from 2% of the last vote cast, to 1%. In addition, the bill moves the non-presidential petition deadline from May to August, so that it now matches the presidential petition deadline.

Free & Equal urges West Virginia Governor Manchin to sign HB 2981 into law as soon as possible.

Assuming the bill is signed into law, the only states that will have no procedure for a minor party or independent presidential candidate to get on the ballot -that is at or below 2% of the last vote cast in a midterm year- will be North Carolina and Oklahoma.

OK HB 1072 has advanced from the rules committee in Oklahoma, and Free & Equal will continue to monitor its progress. Free & Equal also plans to help introduce an appropriations-related ballot access bill in North Carolina for the 2010 legislative session.

Free and Equal  is a non partisan, organization dedicated to eliminating restrictive ballot access laws that target Independent and Third-Party Candidates.

Free & Equal will challenge these laws, through lobbying of state legislators, court challenges, and initiatives.

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