Bill would lower vote threshold required for Major Party status, expand petition timeline
Senator Scott Jensen (R-Chaska) and Representative Steve Elkins (DFL-Bloomington) joined chairs representing every Minor Political Party in the state, as well as the chairs of Minnesota’s newest Major Political Parties, the Legal Marijuana Now Party and Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party, to introduce bipartisan ballot access legislation at the state capitol. The bill would lower the required percentage of statewide vote for a Minor Party to obtain Major Party status from 5 percent to 1 percent. Additionally, the legislation would extend the period for Minor Party candidates to obtain signatures from Minnesota voters to gain ballot access from 14 days to 88 days, as well as lowering the number of signatures needed to gain access.
“This legislation is not about partisanship nor party, it is about fairness and access,” said Senator Jensen, chief-author of the bill in the Senate. “Minnesotans deserve choice when selecting their elected officials, but current state law creates unnecessary barriers. This bill not only puts us in line with our neighboring states, but it levels the playing field by creating fair rules that benefit the voter, not the political establishment.”
“Having more choices on the ballot will encourage higher voter turnout by increasing the probability that there will be a candidate on the ballot whose views more closely correspond to the views of the voter,” said Representative Elkins.
Specifically, the legislation:
- Lowers the required statewide vote percentage for a political party to gain Major Party status from five percent to one percent
- Extends the amount of time to gather signatures for general election ballot access from 14 days to 88 days for minor party candidates
- Allows political parties to obtain the signatures of 20,000 eligible Minnesota voters on a ballot access petition to gain Major Party status
- Allows Minnesota voters to sign a nominating petition and not forfeit their right to vote in the primary election
- Allows Minnesota voters to sign more than one nominating petition
- Lowers the required number of signatures to be placed on a general election ballot for State Senate from 500 to 400
- Lowers the required number of signatures to be placed on a general election ballot for State House from 500 to 200
- Lowers the required number of signatures to be placed on a general election ballot for a municipal or school district office from 500 to 200
Minnesota’s current statewide voting threshold for automatic ballot access is 5 percent. In South Dakota, it’s 2.5 percent; in North Dakota and Iowa, it’s 2 percent; and in Wisconsin, it’s 1 percent. In Minnesota, minor parties have only 14 days to obtain ballot signatures. In Wisconsin, they have 70 days, in South Dakota they have 112 days, and in Iowa they have 140 days.
“Minnesota has some of the most restrictive ballot access laws in the country,” concluded Chris Holbrook, Libertarian Party of Minnesota Chair. “Our statewide vote threshold for Major Party status is currently double or more of all our neighboring states. The time is now for Minnesota be inclusive and accessible for those who want to run for local offices.”