ELEC CD-NEW PARTIES-SIGNATURES

Amends the Election Code. Provides that petitions to constitute a new political party in the State and nomination petitions for independent candidates must be signed by a number of qualified voters at least equal to the minimum petition signature requirement for a Statewide office candidate of an established political party (instead of 1% of the number of voters who voted at the next preceding Statewide general election or 25,000 qualified voters, whichever is less). Provides that petitions for form a new political party within any district or political subdivision less than the entire State shall be signed by qualified voters of the district or political subdivision equaling in number not less than the minimum petition signature requirement for the office on the slate with the highest minimum petition signature requirement (instead of 5% of the number of voters who voted at the next preceding regular election in that district or subdivision). Provides that the signature requirement for nomination petitions for independent candidates for public offices other than Statewide offices is the same as the signature requirement for established political parties. Provides that, if the signature requirement for established political party candidates also includes a limit on the number of signatures that may be filed, then that limitation shall also apply to new political party candidates for that office. Effective immediately.