Pennsylvania Unlikely to Move Primary

July 26th, 2007

On July 25, the Pennsylvania Senate State Government Committee held a hearing on HB 289, which moves the primary (for all state and federal office) from April 22 to February 12. From the comments of State Senators and also from the comments of witnesses, the bill seems to have little or no support.



Indiana Decision Expected in Five Days

July 26th, 2007

On July 25, a hearing was held in Indiana state court over whether the nominee of a new party can be disqualfied from the November ballot, because he voted in a major party primary. The case concerns Mark Herak’s attempt to be on the November ballot for city council in Highland, Indiana, as the nominee of the “Highland First Party.” All cities and towns in Indiana have partisan elections. Herak’s petition was not challenged, but his ballot status was challenged because he had voted in the Republican primary. No Indiana law says independent or new party candidates must not have voted in a major party primary.

The judge said he would rule in five days. The case is Herak v Lake County Election Board, in Lake County Circuit Court.

No Recount for Georgia Special Congressional Election

July 25th, 2007

On July 25, Jim Whitehead said he will not ask for a recount in the July 17 special election for Georgia’s US House seat, 10th district. The final results are Paul Broun 23,529; Jim Whitehead 23,135. Both are Republicans. They placed first and second in the first round on June 25. However, on June 25, Whitehead had 23,555 votes and Broun only had 11,208. Broun won by appealing to Democrats and independents.

Prohibition Party Internal Dispute Court Hearing

July 25th, 2007

The Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Court of Common Pleas will hold a hearing on August 22, over which set of national Prohibition Party officers is entitled to receive the party’s annual bequest. The hearing is at 10 am in Media, Pennsylvania. Back in 1930 or so, a wealthy supporter of the Prohibition Party had died and arranged his will so that the party would receive an annual payment. The case is In Re: Residuary Trust Under Will of George L. Pennock for the Benefit of the Prohibition Party, no. 114-1937.

US Senate Expected to Vote on Utah-DC Bill Before August 6

July 25th, 2007

Backers of the bill to expand the size of the U.S. House of Representatives expect to get a vote in the U.S. Senate before August 6. The bill in the Senate is S1257. The House version, HR 1906, passed the House several months ago. The bill would give D.C. a voting representative, and also give another seat to Utah. If the bill were signed into law, one of the little-noticed defects in the Electoral College would be cured. Ever since 1961, there have been an even number of votes in the electoral college. This makes a tie much more likely than if there were an odd number of electoral college votes. But the bill would restore an odd number of electoral votes immediately. Utah would gain an electoral vote, but D.C. wouldn’t, since the 23rd amendment limits D.C. to 3 electoral votes (as long as any state is so low in population that the lowest-population state also just has 3 electoral votes).

Atlanta Newspaper Explores Cynthia McKinney Relationship with Green Party

July 25th, 2007

The July 24 issue of Atlanta Progressive News has this feature story on former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney and her relationship with the Green Party.

Iowa Greens and Libertarians Will Each Circulate “Voter Registration” Petitions for Both Parties

July 24th, 2007

A new procedure in Iowa lets any unqualified party circulate a “voter registration” petition. If that petition gets 850 names, then that unqualified party qualifies to receive a list of the names and addresses of voters who register as members of that party on voter registration forms. The Iowa Green and Libertarian Parties will each circulate that type of petition for both parties. Voters are free to sign for more than one party, so this idea will save work for both parties.

Cindy Sheehan Will Run for Congress as an Independent

July 24th, 2007

On July 23, Cindy Sheehan announced she will definitely run for Congress as an independent in California’s 8th district. The incumbent is House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Sheehan had earlier said she would wait until July 23, to see if Pelosi supports impeachment of President Bush and Vice-President Cheney.

North Carolina Governor Signs 3-Day Registration Bill

July 24th, 2007

On July 20, North Carolina H91 was signed into law. It lets people register to vote only 3 days before election day. It is not quite election-day registration, but it is the closest thing to it in any southern state.

Reform Party Is Still Fighting FEC in Court

July 24th, 2007

On June 28, the Reform Party asked the U.S. District Court in Gainesville, Florida, to lift the order forbidding the party from spending money on anything, until it pays back the $333,558 that it owes to the Federal Election Commission. The party had raised this point earlier in the 11th circuit, but the 11th circuit said to take it up with the U.S. District Court. The case is still called FEC v Reform Party USA, no. 1:04cv-79-MMP.

If the FEC were pragmatic, it wouldn’t fight this point, since it is obvious that if the order remains in effect, the party won’t be able to raise money to pay what it owes. It takes money to raise money.

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Welcome to the OFFICIAL online home of Ballot Access News, a non-partisan newsletter reporting on the trials and tribulations of folks trying to put candidates on the ballot in the United States of America. There are many surprisingly restrictive ballot access laws in this country, which the average voter has no knowledge or conception of; part of our purpose here (besides reporting on progress made) is to report on these restrictive ballot access laws so that more people are aware of them. I hope you find these materials interesting and exciting; if you do, you can support the newsletter by subscribing!

Ballot Access News is edited and published by Richard Winger, the nation's leading expert on ballot access legal issues.

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  • Politics, Soviet-style by S. Philip Gordon, regarding recent ballot access issues in Georgia – the US state, not the Russian territority!

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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]

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