David Lombardo is reporting for the Times Union candidates for local office may not need to collect as many signatures this year to secure a line on the ballot. Lawmakers are weighing a change in response to the new law that moved state and local primaries from September to June, giving candidates in village, town or city contests less time to collect signatures than usual. Under a measure that has already passed the Assembly, the number of required signatures for local elected positions outside of New York City would be reduced by 25 percent. The bill's sponsor, Democrat Assemblyman D. Billy Jones, said the lower threshold will prevent "unnecessary headaches so people planning to run and stand up for their communities can do so without new hoops to jump through." The legislation is slated for a vote in the Senate Elections Committee Feb. 4. The petition process for party candidates begins Feb. 26, with all completed petitions due by April 4. Read the full story in the Times Union.