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August 12th, 2005
On August 12, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled that if parties desire to have a blanket primary in conjunction with certain other parties, they may do so, notwithstanding state election law. Green Party of Alaska v State, S11272. The Green and Republican Moderate Parties had filed this lawsuit in 2002, saying they wanted to share a primary ballot, and invite all registered voters to use that ballot. Later the Democratic, Libertarian, and Alaskan Independence Parties had joined the case, and in 2004 the Green, Democratic, Libertarian and Alaskan Independence Party had used a blanket primary ballot. The Republicans had their own ballot, and the Republican Moderate Party by then was no longer qualified.
The decision was 5-0.
Still pending in the Alaska Supreme Court is the other lawsuit, over whether the state’s definition of “political party” is too strict or not. That is also called Green Party of Alaska v State.
August 12th, 2005
On August 10, Michigan state rep. Leon Drolet introduced HB5082, which would relax the law concerning the deadline for a qualified minor party to certify the name of its presidential and vice-presidential candidates to the Secretary of State. Current law requires that the names be certified within one business day after the national convention ends. The bill would say that the parties must certify the names no later than 60 days before the general election. Last year, the Libertarian Party failed to certify the names of its national ticket to the Secretary of State within one day after the close of the convention, because the state party officers were driving home to Michigan from Atlanta, Georgia, a trip which took longer than one day. However, the Michigan Secretary of State overlooked this technical transgression.
August 12th, 2005
The Ohio Libertarian Party’s candidate for Governor of Ohio in 2006 will be Dr. Bill Peirce, Economics Professor Emeritus of Case Western Reserve University. He was Chairman of the Economics Department at Case Western for 6 years, and has degrees from both Harvard and Princeton.
If the Ohio Libertarian Party wins its ballot access in the 6th circuit, the party may possibly be ordered onto the 2006 ballot. The hearing is Wednesday, September 14 in Cinncinnati, in the morning.
August 12th, 2005
In 1996, a U.S. District Court ruled that the number of signatures needed for a new party in Arkansas (3% of the last gubernatorial vote, or about 22,000 signatures) violates the U.S. Constitution. Citizens to Establish the Reform Party in Arkansas v Priest, 970 F Supp 690. On August 10, 2005, Arkansas Attorney General ruled that the state need not obey the 1996 court ruling.
The Attorney General’s Opinion is 16 pages long, but it never acknowledges that a specific finding of law in the 1996 opinion (#18, on page 698) says that the number of signatures is invalid, without regard to the petition deadline. Instead, the Attorney General Opinion quotes from some of the decision’s findings of fact, which seem to indicate that the number of signatures was invalid only in conjunction with the early deadline. The state had cured the deadline defect but has never amended the number of signatures.
The Attorney General’s Opinion acknowledges that the same U.S. District Court judge repeated his finding in 2001 in Green Party of Arkansas v Priest, 159 F Supp 2d 1140 (a decision that also struck down the inability of the state to have any procedures for a new party to get on the ballot in an odd-year special election). But he says that this was just “dicta”.
The Attorney General also suggests that only a U.S. Court of Appeals ruling is binding on the state. He ignores the fact that Arkansas did file notice of appeal in the 1996 case to the 8th circuit, and then abandoned its own appeal. In any event, even U.S. District Court findings that laws are unconstitutional are binding, if the state doesn’t appeal them.
Finally, the Attorney General’s Opinion contradicts a Secretary of State’s ruling earlier this year, which said that since the 2003 legislature had eliminated the law explaining what the deadline is for a new party petition is, but retained the law saying a party petition must be completed in 5 months, that therefore a new party petition can be circulated in any 5 months period.
The Attorney General Opinion says the Secretary of State was wrong, but does not explain a basis, nor does he say what the start period and the deadline should be.
If this posting is difficult to understand, one can only say that is because one doesn’t ordinarily expect state officials to issue rulings of such poor reasoning quality. The ruling seems to be from Alice in Wonderland’s world.
August 9th, 2005
On August 8, the San Diego city council voted to ban write-in votes in city run-off elections. The bill passed unanimously. Even Donna Frye voted for it, even though she was herself a write-in candidate for Mayor in the November 2004 mayoral run-off.
August 9th, 2005
On August 9, the US Court of Appeals, DC circuit, issued its opinion in Initiative and Referendum Institute v US Postal Service, 04-5045. By a vote of 3-0, that Court ruled that at least some post office sidewalks are public fora. They also concluded that petitioning cannot be banned on such sidewalks. These would be sidewalks that people would use, even if they weren’t going to the post office building itself. They would be sidewalks that are parallel to streets.
The Court of Appeals remanded the case back to the US District Court (which had upheld the postal regulation) to determine whether a substantial portion of all post office-owned sidewalks are the type of sidewalks that are parallel to streets. If the answer is “yes”, then the postal regulation is unconstitutional on its face. It seems obvious that the answer will be “yes”.
Probably the post office will now re-write its regulation, rather than going through the expense and uncertainty of more litigation. The probable outcome will be a new postal regulation that differentiates between types of sidewalks; or possibly the post office will just drop its ban on petitioning on its own sidewalks.
The court did not say that the interior sidewalks are necessarily off-limits to petitioning. This has not been decided yet. The decision will be in effect when the government’s 45-day period to ask for a rehearing is up (Sep. 23).
August 8th, 2005
On August 2, President Bush signed HR 2985 into law. It requires the states to hold special elections to fill vacancies in the US House, within 47 days after any event which causes the death of at least 100 members of the House. Congress had approved the bill on July 26. The bill passed 305-122 in the House, and 96-4 in the Senate.
August 8th, 2005
On August 6, Michael Badnarik (who was the Libertarian Party presidential nominee last year) announced that he will run for US House, Texas 10th district, next year.
August 7th, 2005
Meeting in Kansas City on August 6-7, the Libertarian Party’s national committee altered the definition of “membership” in the national party. National membership will no longer be linked to the payment of national dues. Dues had been $25 per year for decades, and earlier this year they had been raised to $50. The Libertarian Party, along with the various parties that hold themselves out as socialist, had been the only nationally-organized parties in the U.S. in which dues were required for membership.
August 6th, 2005
The New York city mayoral election this November will probably include six candidates on the ballot. The Working Families, Conservative, Libertarian and Socialist Workers Parties will each have their own nominee, in addition to the Republican and Democratic nominees. Incumbent mayor Michael Bloomberg, a Republican, is expected to win the Republican Party and also have the nomination of the Independence Party and the Liberal Party.
This will be the first important elected office for which the Working Families Party has not cross-endorsed the Democratic nominee (the Democratic nominee will be chosen in a September primary). The Working Families Party has already decided to run its own candidate, Kevin Finnegan. The Conservative Party has also decided to run its own candidate, Tom Ognibene.
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Issues
available: |
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2012:
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2011:
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2010:
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2009:
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2008:
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2007:
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2006:
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2005:
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2004:
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2003:
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2002:
- December
2002 Issue
(V:18 N:8)
- November
2002 Issue
(V:18 N:7)
- October
1, 2002 Issue (V:18 N:6)
- September
1, 2002 Issue
(V:18 N:5)
- August
1, 2002 issue (V:18 N:4)
- July
1, 2002 issue (V:18 N:3)
- June
1, 2002 issue (V:18 N:2)
- May
1, 2002 issue (V:18 N:1)
- April
1, 2002 issue (V:17 N:13)
- March
1, 2002 issue (V:17 N:12)
- February
1, 2002 issue (V:17 N:11)
- January
1, 2002 issue (V:17 N:10)
|
2001:
- December
1, 2001 issue (V:17 N:9)
- November
1, 2001 issue (V:17 N:8)
- October
1, 2001 issue (V:17 N:7)
- September
1, 2001 issue (V:17 N:6)
- August
1, 2001 issue (V:17 N:5)
- July
1, 2001 issue (V:17 N:4)
- June
1, 2001 issue (V:17 N:3)
- May
1, 2001 issue (V:17 N:2)
- April
1, 2001 issue (V:17 N:1)
- March
1, 2001 issue (V:16 N:12)
- February
1, 2001 issue (V:16 N:11)
- January
1, 2001 issue (V:16 N:10)
|
2000:
- December
5, 2000 issue (V:16 N:9)
- November
16, 2000 issue (V:16 N:8)
- October
1, 2000 issue (V:16 N:7)
- September
1, 2000 issue (V:16 N:6)
- August
1, 2000 issue (V:16 N:5)
- July
1, 2000 issue (V:16 N:4)
- June
1, 2000 issue (V:16 N:3)
- May
1, 2000 issue (V:16 N:2)
- April
1, 2000 issue (V:16 N:1)
- March
1, 2000 issue (V:15 N:12)
- February
1, 2000 issue (V:15 N:11)
- January
1, 2000 issue (V:15 N:10)
|
1999:
- December
1, 1999 issue (V:15 N:9)
- November
1, 1999 issue (V:15 N:8)
- October
1, 1999 issue (V:15 N:7)
- September
1, 1999 issue (V:15 N:6)
- August
3, 1999 issue (V:15 N:5)
- July
3, 1999 issue (V:15 N:4)
- June
1, 1999 issue (V:15 N:3)
- May
3, 1999 issue (V:15 N:2)
- April
3, 1999 issue (V:15 N:1)
- March
6, 1999 issue (V:14 N:12)
- February
6, 1999 issue (V:14 N:11)
- January
6, 1999 issue (V:14 N:10)
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1998:
- December
8, 1998 issue (V:14 N:9)
- November
8, 1998 issue (V:14 N:8)
- October
4, 1998 issue (V:14 N:7)
- September
4, 1998 issue (V:14 N:6)
- August
3, 1998 issue (V:14 N:5)
- July
3, 1998 issue (V:14 N:4)
- June
3, 1998 issue (V:14 N:3)
- May
7, 1998 issue (V:14 N:2)
- April
5, 1998 issue (V:14 N:1)
- March
8, 1998 issue (V:13 N:12)
- February
8, 1998 issue (V:13 N:11)
- January
5, 1998 issue (V:13 N:10)
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1997:
- December
5, 1997 issue (V:13 N:9)
- November
1, 1997 issue (V:13 N:8)
- October
6, 1997 issue (V:13 N:7)
- September
6, 1997 issue (V:13 N:6)
- August
4, 1997 issue (V:13 N:5)
- July
2, 1997 issue (V:13 N:4)
BAN.
changed to a 12 issue per year schedule.
- June
2, 1997 issue (V:13 N:3)
- May
5, 1997 issue (V:13 N:2)
- April
7, 1997 issue (V:13 N:1)
- March
10, 1997 issue (V:12 N:13)
- February
10, 1997 issue (V:12 N:12)
- January
12, 1997 issue (V:12 N:11)
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1996:
- December
12, 1996 issue (V:12 N:10)
- November
12, 1996 issue (V:12 N:9)
- October
12, 1996 issue (V:12 N:8)
- September
9, 1996 issue (V:12 N:7)
- August
12, 1996 issue (V:12 N:6)
- July
20, 1996 issue (V:12 N:5)
- June
26, 1996 issue (V:12 N:4)
- May
28, 1996 issue (V:12 N:3)
- May
3, 1996 issue (V:12 N:2)
- April
3, 1996 issue (V:12 N:1)
- March
6, 1996 issue (V:11 N:13)
- February
7, 1996 issue (V:11 N:12)
- January
14, 1996 issue (V:11 N:11)
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1995:
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1994:
- December
15, 1994 issue (V:10 N:10)
- November
15, 1994 issue (V:10 N:9)
- October
18 1994 issue (V:10 N:8)
- September
20, 1994 issue (V:10 N:7)
- August
23, 1994 issue (V:10 N:6)
- July
26, 1994 issue (V:10 N:5)
- June
28, 1994 issue (V:10 N:4)
- May
31, 1994 issue (V:10 N:3)
- May
3, 1994 issue (V:10 N:2)
- April
5, 1994 issue (V:10 N:1)
- March
8, 1994 issue (V:9 N:13)
- February
8, 1994 issue
(V:9 N:12)
- January
11, 1994
issue (V:9 N:11)
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1993:
- December
12, 1993 (V:9 N:10)
- November
14, 1993 (V:9 N:9)
- October
17, 1993 (V:9 N:8)
- September
19, 1993 (V:9 N:7)
- August
22, 1993 (V:9 N:6)
- July
25, 1993 (V:9 N:5)
- June
27, 1993
(V:9 N:4)
- May
30, 1993 (V:9 N:3)
- May
3, 1993 (V:9 N:2)
- April
5, 1993 (V:9 N:1)
- March
8, 1993 (V:8 N:13)
- February
8, 1993 (V:8 N:12)
- January
8, 1993 (V:8 N:11)
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1992:
- December
10, 1992
(V:8 N:10)
- November
6, 1992 (V:8 N:9)
- October
5, 1992
(V:8 N:8)
- September
9, 1992 (V:8 N:7)
- August
13, 1992
(V:8 N:6)
- July
17, 1992
(V:8 N:5)
- June
15, 1992 (V:8 N:4)
- May
24, 1992
(V:8 N:3)
- April
27, 1992 (V:8 N:2)
- March
30, 1992
(V:8 N:1)
- March
1, 1992
(V:7 N:13)
- February
2, 1992
(V:7 N:12)
- January
2, 1992 (V:7 N:11)
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1991:
- December
9, 1991
(V:7 N:10)
- November
11, 1991 (V:7 N:9)
- October
14, 1991 (V:7 N:8)
- September
16, 1991 (V:7 N:7)
- August
19, 1991 (V:7 N:6)
- July
22, 1991 (V:7 N:5)
- June
24, 1991 (V:7 N:4)
- May
30, 1991 (V:7 N:3)
- May
1, 1991 (V:7 N:2)
- April
3, 1991 (V:7 N:1)
- March
7, 1991 (V:6 N:12)
- February
9, 1991 (V:6 N:11)
- January
14, 1991 (V:6 N:10)
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1990:
- December
14, 1990 (V:6 N:9)
- November
12, 1990 (V:6 N:8)
- October
9, 1990 (V:6 N:7)
- September
11, 1990
(V:6 N:6)
- August
14, 1990
(V:6 N:5)
- July
18, 1990 (V:6 N:4)
- June
26, 1990
(V:6 N:3)
- May
24, 1990 (V:6 N:2)
- April
28, 1990
(V:6 N:1)
- April
2, 1990
(V:5 N:12)
- March
12, 1990 (V:5 N:11)
- February
12, 1990 (V:5 N:10)
- January
23, 1990 (V:5 N:9)
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1989:
- December
24, 1989 (V:5 N:8)
- November
27, 1989 (V:5 N:7)
- October
30, 1989 (V:5 N:6)
- September
26, 1989 (V:5 N:5)
- September
5, 1989 (V:5 N:4)
- August
4, 1989 (V:5 N:3)
- July
7, 1989 (V:5 N:2)
- June
9, 1989 (V:5 N:1)
- May
12, 1989 (V:4 N:12)
- April
14, 1989 (V:4 N:11)
- March
22, 1989 (V:4 N:10)
- February
27, 1989 (V:4 N:9)
- February
1, 1989 (V:4 N:8)
- January
1, 1989 (V:4 N:7)
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1988:
- November
1, 1988 (V:4 N:6)
- October
12, 1988 (V:4 N:5)
- September
16, 1988 (V:4 N:4)
- August
27, 1988 (V:4 N:3)
- August
1, 1988 (V:4 N:2)
- July
8, 1988 (V:4 N:1)
- June
15, 1988 (V:3 N:12)
- May
23, 1988 (V:3 N:11)
- April
19, 1988 (V:3 N:10)
- March
23, 1988 (V:3 N:9)
- February
24, 1988 (V:3 N:8)
- January
20, 1988 (V:3 N:7)
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1987:
- December
23, 1987 (V:3 N:6)
- November
19, 1987 (V:3 N:5)
- October
19, 1987 (V:3 N:4)
- September
21, 1987 (V:3 N:3)
- August
20, 1987 (V:3 N:2)
- July
14, 1987 (V:3 N:1)
- June
13, 1987 (V:2 N:12)
- May
18, 1987 (V:2 N:11)
- April
20, 1987 (V:2 N:10)
- March
13, 1987 (V:2 N:9)
- February
21, 1987 (V:2 N:8)
- January
21, 1987 (V:2 N:7)
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Additional
articles/essays:
- Politics,
Soviet-style by S. Philip Gordon, regarding recent ballot
access issues in Georgia the US state, not the Russian
territority!
Extra
Features:
Other
information:
- Here's how to subscribe
to Ballot Access News!
- Here's information
on Presidential Ballot Access as well as the
vote totals of recent Presidential elections.
- Here are some other
sites which may also be of interest:
Project
Vote-Smart
-
Project Vote
Smart is a citizens' organization dedicated to serving all Americans
with accurate and unbiased information for electoral decision-making.
It was inaugerated in 1992 by former US Presidents Jimmy Carter,
Gerald Ford, and other leaders. Its webpage offers information
about all ballot-listed candidates for all federal and state office.
[Added:040729]
- The
ACE Project
- An interesting
site concerning itself with the "Administration and Cost of Elections",
including issues of fairness and regulatory approaches in various
countries. They seem to be almost blind to the ways that third parties
in the USA are harmed by campaign finance rules crafted for the
problems characteristic of the larger parties, or the ways that
third parties would be disenfranchised by various proposed rules,
but this is nevertheless a useful resource, particularly for the
international comparisons it makes.
[Added:001206]
- "Unofficial"
B.A.N. Page
-
At first,
it looks like there's not much here. But then you follow the "Charts"
link, and click on one of the listed candidates, and you'll get
some truly wonderful nationwide maps of voting patterns.
[Checked:991014]
- ThirdPartyNews.net
-
A site that
covers news about minor parties.
[Checked:060414]
- Third
Party Central
-
Collects lots
of good information and links relating to various third parties
into one convenient location. Nice set of writings on why one
should vote third-party.
[Checked:991014]
- Atlas
of U.S. Presidential Elections
-
A surprisingly
complete listing of votes cast in Presidential elections, including
numerous third-party candidates and nice maps of vote distribution
by state and (on the individual state pages) by county.
[New-URL:010309]
- D.C.'s
Political Report
-
Very good
presentation of candidate and party information, including virtually
every known third-party group in the USA. Election results, candidate
information, etc.
[Updated:991214]
- Initiative
For Texas
-
A group trying
to establish the right to Initiative and Referendum in Texas.
Their work has intriguing parallels and overlaps with ballot access
work. Every page at the site seems to have some music on it, which
can get annoying after awhile, but otherwise it's an interesting
site.
[Checked:991014]
- Center
for Voting and Democracy
-
Folks concerned
with alternative voting systems, and related issues, from a moderately
leftist perspective. Useful articles describing how better systems
of voting and electing actually work.
[Added:000823]
The newsletter
is published by and copyright by Richard
Winger. |
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