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Texas Committee Holds Hearing on Ballot Access Bill

Posted by c.thrasher on May 1, 2009 | No Responses

This week the Texas State House Elections Committee held a hearing on House Bill 820. The bill would significantly reduce the number of signatures required for Independent and Third Party candidates to be placed on the ballot.

Free & Equal commends State Representative Solomon Ortiz, Jr. for introducing the bill.  The current election law requires signatures totaling 1% of the votes cast in the most recent gubernatorial race from registered voters who did not vote in the most recent primary in order to get on the ballot. The law also limits the time candidates have to collect the signatures. Ortiz’s HB 820 would change the support threshold to 500 signatures.

“In Texas, it is virtually impossible for third party and independent candidates to get on the ballot,” Ortiz said in a statement released Thursday. “HB 820 would allow these candidates to get on the ballot, giving Texas voters more choices and bringing new ideas into the political arena.”

The Democratic Representative from Corpus Christi continued:

“I am a Democrat who believes that we can win elections no matter how many other parties are on the ballot. I welcome all competitors in the political marketplace of ideas.”

The Free & Equal Elections Foundation applauds Mr. Ortiz’s statements, and urges the Texas State Legislator to pass HB 820.

The Free and Equal Elections Foundation is a non partisan, non profit 501c(4) 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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Categories: Texas