TN: Republicans Oppose Efforts to Loosen Exclusionary Ballot Access Regime

From The Republic:

Republicans are balking at a Democratic senator's proposal to make it easier for minor parties to be listed on the Tennessee ballot. Democratic Senate Minority Leader Jim Kyle of Memphis wants to set a threshold of 10,000 signatures from eligible voters for a third party to be recognized in the state, down from a GOP proposal of about 40,000 signatures from registered voters. . . .

Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, R-Collierville, is a main sponsor of the ballot access measure that became necessary because of a federal judges' ruling last year that the state's current standards are too burdensome on smaller parties. . . .