Comments on: Maine Governor Signs Bill on How Party Remains on the Ballot

By: ME Green Tony

ME Green Tony — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:15:59 +0000

Using a percentage rather than a fixed number was discussed with the legislation’s sponsor. The concern with a fixed percentage was if a percentage of lets say 5 was chosen and a small party (say 1000 members strong) would only need a small number of members (50 people) to vote to stay on the ballot.
Interestingly enough, the Secretary of State’s office was concerned that the 10,000 member threshold disapportionately affects the MGIP. 10,000 is only about 3% of the Reps and Dems, and almost 30% of our party. I think the compromise is 3% but not less than 5000. Perhaps next session…

By: Deemer from California

Deemer from California — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:34:00 +0000

Richard:
Does any other state currently or has any in the past used this prinicple to determine how a party stays ballot qualified? Not knowing just how many members will actually vote makes a party vulnerable when there is a non-controversial major election. It would have been better if they had just chosen a fixed percentage of the gubernatorial or presidential general election vote. Presumably this makes it easier for any 3rd party
to remain on the ballot after a Presidential election.

By: Richard

Richard — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:30:17 +0000

If the Maine Libertarian Party, or the Maine Constitution Party, or the Maine Working Families Party, were to file a notice with the state saying that the party intends to do the 5% petition for party status, the state would start keeping track of its registrants. If such an unqualified party actually got 10,000 registrants, and at least 10,000 of them voted in a general election, such a party would have a strong legal and moral case that it should be recognized also. The US Supreme Court said in Williams v Rhodes that states cannot discriminate against new parties and in favor of old parties. If a new party met the requirements that old parties must meet, it ought to be able to win a lawsuit to get recognized.

By: Michael Seebeck

Michael Seebeck — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:24:52 +0000

How does this affect the LPME up there?

By: Richard Winger

Richard Winger — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:31:12 +0000

Great Britain recognizes DemoRep’s principle. In Great Britain, there is no such thing as a “qualified political party” for ballot access purposes. But the habit of giving a group special privileges because it polled a substantial vote in the last election is very strongly rooted in the U.S. It’s not easy to overcome 120 years of U.S. history.

The new Maine law is a step in Demo Rep’s direction, though.

By: Demo Rep

Demo Rep — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:56:02 +0000

Every election is N-E-W and has ZERO to do with any prior election — much too hard for MORON judges to understand.

P.R. and A.V. before it is too late.