The rules for minor political parties and independents to get on the ballot vary greatly from state to state, and Alabama has among the worst of these rules.

New parties in Alabama need signatures of registered voters equal to 3 percent of the voter turnout in the previous governor’s race to secure a spot on the ballot. That comes out to about 37,500 verifiable signatures. (In reality, parties need to collect twice that many to give them a safety cushion.)

According to Richard Winger, publisher of Ballot Access News, Alabama’s signature requirement takes a back seat only to Oklahoma’s, where new parties need 5 percent of the vote in the previous governor’s or presidential race.

In Oklahoma: Irony Headquarters, we told you about a bill that Oklahomans are praying will ease that requirement, House Bill 1072. And it looks like Alabamans, thanks to Rep. Cam Ward, are praying for a bill of their own, House Bill 142.

The Birmingham News says, “Ward’s bill cuts the 3 percent level to 1.5 percent, a reasonable level, and a third party will need 10 percent of the total vote in the most recent election instead of 20 percent.”

At 1.5 percent, Alabama would be more closely aligned with the rest of the country. And requiring that new parties get 10 percent of the vote to remain ballot-qualified, while still illogical and unfair, would be a huge improvement.

The Birmingham News has it right, the lawmakers who will try to block this bill are status quo Democrats and Republicans. But you can’t paint all major-party legislators with a broad brush, as the bill has supporters within the two parties as well.

Free & Equal is calling on those supporters to paint their stubborn counterparts as engaging in petty politics, refusing to act in the best interests of the people.

With the passage of this bill, as the Birmingham News says, “the Democratic or Republican incumbent might have to explain more to voters. There would be fewer guaranteed seats. Campaigns might actually focus on issues important to voters.”

Competition is never going to appeal to incumbents, but it’s what’s best for America.