The 14th amendment guarantees equal protection under the law, but in Texas, candidates of emerging parties are forced to pay a “poll tax” to the Texas Secretary of State. This money goes into a "General Revenue Fund" which is then used to help pay for the primaries of the two major parties.
Emerging (or “convention” parties) like the Libertarian Party of Texas do not participate in primaries. Instead, our candidates are nominated at conventions which are self-funded by the party. In short, emerging parties are forced to help fund their opposition.
HB 4309 seeks to level the playing field in how candidate filing fees are handled. Representative Steve Toth of House District 15 sits on the House Elections Committee that will eventually hear this bill.
If HB 4309 becomes law, filing fees for emerging party candidates would be handled the exact same way as it currently is for Democrats and Republicans — paid directly to the candidate’s county or state political party.
Sign the petition to let Rep. Toth and the House Elections Committee know that you support HB 4309 and "cutting out the middle man" so that LPTexas candidate filing fees are paid directly to OUR party.
60 signed so far. Help us get to 100!
