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Libertarian Ballot Access Bill Likely Dead This Session

FILE PHOTO: Justin Hicks
/
IPB News

An effort to make it harder for Libertarian U.S. Senate and governor candidates to make it onto the ballot is likely dead this session.

The legislation would have required Libertarian candidates for Senate and governor to get 4,500 voter signatures to make it on the ballot (500 each from the state's nine congressional districts) – the same as Democratic and Republican candidates. That's a process that costs a lot of time and, more importantly, money.

READ MORE: How Do I Follow Indiana's Legislative Session? Here's Your Guide To Demystify The Process

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But despite the bill passing committee, it was removed from the House floor calendar. House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) said he doesn’t expect to see it again this session.

“Sometimes you don’t get all the feedback just through the committee process," Huston said. "More eyeballs get on it, more thoughts are given to it and more consideration.”

It’s not impossible for the issue to come up again this session. And Huston said it could certainly resurface in future years.

Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.