Three Connecticut Republican State Senators have introduced SB 222, which eases the definition of a major political party. Current law says a major party is entitled to a primary, and is defined as a group that either polled 20% for Governor, or which has registration membership equal to 20% of the number of voters enrolled in all political parties.

The bill lowers both the vote test and the registration test from 20% to 15%. It is not known why this bill was introduced. The sponsors are Senators Leonard Fasano (the leader of Republicans in the State Senate), Kevin Witkos, and Michael McLachlin. The Republican Party polled 46.15% for Governor in 2014, so it is not in danger of going off the ballot. Its registration is about 20% of the state total, but about 36% of the total of voters registered into a party.

The bill had a hearing in the Government Administration & Elections Committee on February 13, but the legislature’s web page hasn’t posted the minutes for that meeting yet.