By Richard Winger On May 22, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton signed SF 455, which says that the petition to create a new ballot-qualified party must be completed within one year. Previously the group circulating such a petition could take as long as it wishes. The petition for a new party requires the signatures of 5% of the last vote cast. It was created in 1913 and has never been used statewide. Minor parties in Minnesota instead use the independent candidate petitions, which permit a party label other than just “independent.” …read more