HB 58 seeks to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the O.C.G.A. relating to primaries and elections generally. The Act shall be known as the “Ballot Access Reform Act of 2015.”

            It cites the intent of the General Assembly “to increase voter participation and political debate by making the ballot more accessible for candidates of political bodies and for independent candidates and to provide for simplified and consistent petition standards for all public offices.”

            It adds the term “state-wide, congressional, General Assembly, or other” before the word office to add greater specification, further that the nominee must be voted upon “in a partisan election” and such petition for candidacy shall be signed by a number of voters equal to 2 percent – down from 5 percent – of the total number of votes case in the last election.

            It also includes a stipulation that if, in the last election filing for office, the candidate qualified for the same office by nominating petition or other provision and received at least 5 percent of the votes cast for that office, the number of signatures required shall be reduced by half, and if the candidate received at least 10 percent of votes cast, the requirement for a nominating petition shall be waived.