The Nashville/Davidson County Libertarian Party has set up this web page to help Tennessee activists lobby for a new, better ballot access law for minor parties. As the page explains, the old law was declared unconstitutional last year. The page also features an ideal new law. The wording for the new law is identical to what was introduced in the 2007 session of the legislature. The 2007 bills, SB 288 and HB 626, did not pass.
A bill to revise the old, unconstitutional law, SB 129, has been introduced this year already, but it is not as good as the 2007 bills. SB 129 would still require new parties to nominate by primary; it would leave in place the March petition deadline; it would require 16,017 signatures; and it keeps the old state policy that assumes someone who merely signs the petition to put a party on the ballot is considered a member of that party. Furthermore, SB 129 says voter registration forms in Tennessee should begin to ask voters to choose a party (or to choose independent status), which is a different subject than ballot access and which ought to be in a separate bill.
I’m still trying to figure out why Tennessee has such an easy path for “independent” candidates, yet such a difficult path for “minor parties”!?!?!
Nashville does some good work.
Every state that has ballot access issues should be doing this.