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August 31st, 2010
On August 30, the Arizona Democratic Party filed a complaint with the Attorney General, the U.S. Attorney, and the Maricopa County Attorney, saying that three Republicans recruited various people to file in the Green Party primary. See this story. Here is the 12-page letter.
On the one hand, the activity complained of certainly is not illegal, notwithstanding the arguments made in the letter. On the other hand, the activity is harmful to the Green Party, which had already been complaining about the activity. The recruited candidates are not sincere and have no desire to campaign or to meet with Green Party leaders. Thanks to Bradley Jansen for the link.
August 31st, 2010
On August 30, the Michigan State Court of Appeals ruled that “The Tea Party” should not be added to the ballot because of discrepancies over its name. In many official documents it had said its name is “The Tea Party”. But on the petition sheets, the name of the party is “Tea Party”. See this story. Thanks to Thomas Jones for the link. The decision doesn’t appear to be on the Court’s web page yet. UPDATE: the party says it will appeal to the State Supreme Court.
The Tea Party movement had not created the party that submitted the petition. Considerable evidence showed that the petition had been circulated and paid for by groups and individuals associated with the Democratic Party. Although the awareness of that might have influenced the judges’ attitude toward the case, factors like that are separate from the legal issues in this case.
August 31st, 2010
The Constitution Party of Illinois expects to file a lawsuit on September 1 to get its statewide slate of candidates on the Illinois ballot. Illinois requires 25,000 valid signatures. After employees of the State Board of Elections checked each signature, they found 25,017 valid signatures. But then members of the Board reduced the valid number to 22,000. They did this by presuming that certain signatures must be forged, because the signature on the petition does not resemble the signature on the voter registration form.
The party says that is because some voters have not signed a voter registration form in decades, and as these voters have aged, the appearance of their signature has changed.
When the Board found a signature it believed had been forged, it then disqualified all the signatures on the same sheet. This is the same reasoning that led the Board to disqualify the statewide Libertarian slate in 1998. See this story. Thanks to Jeff Trigg for the link.
August 30th, 2010
On August 30, the Progressive Party, and the Working Families Party, filed a lawsuit in Oregon state court against a proposal by the Secretary of State to print three-letter abbreviations on the November ballot, instead of full party names. The case is Progressive Party of Oregon v Brown, Marion County Circuit Court, 10C-20167.
Oregon in the past has always printed party names on ballots, but this year the Secretary of State wants to use abbreviations, which would be: REP for Republican; DEM for Democratic; CON for Constitution; IND for Independent Party; LBT for Libertarian; PGP for Pacific Green; PRO for Progressive; and WFP for Working Families.
Also the Secretary of State wants to use NAV for independent candidates. “NAV” means “non-affiliated voter.” The lawsuit will probably be heard quickly. The lawsuit rests mostly on statutory construction, but includes constitutional arguments as well. Another co-plaintiff is incumbent State Senator Larry George. Here is the brief.
August 30th, 2010
This news story reveals that the West Virginia Secretary of State tallies the number of registrants in all parties now, even the unqualified ones. The Libertarian Party has 1,300 registered members, even though it was only a ballot-qualified party during the period November 1996 through November 2000. The Constitution Party has 99 registered members, counting the obvious misspellings of “Constitution.” Thanks to Jeff Becker for the link.
Comments Off
August 30th, 2010
On August 30, a Florida state court judge refused to issue an injunction, forcing Governor Charlie Crist to return certain campaign donations made by people who now say they would not have given those contributions if they had known he would leave the Republican Party and run as an independent. See this story. However, the case is still alive.
August 30th, 2010
The Alaska Libertarian Party executive committee held a press conference on Monday to say that even though the party hasn’t been asked by U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski to nominate her (if she loses the Republican primary), that even if the party is asked, it will decline. See this story. For a more detailed account, see this account from www.libertarianrepublican.net.
August 30th, 2010
The South Dakota Constitution Party is appealing its ballot access loss. See this story. For earlier coverage of the U.S. District Court’s adverse decision, see this earlier coverage.
August 30th, 2010
On August 27, the federal government refused to exempt Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii and Wisconsin from the new federal law that tells states they must mail overseas absentee ballots no later than 45 days before the election. See this story, on how the denial of the waiver affects Hawaii. It is likely that these states will now consent to count foreign absentee ballots even if they arrive late.
Also see this story. The federal government also denied waivers to the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands. However, it granted waivers to Delaware, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and Washington.
August 29th, 2010
On August 25, the Socialist Party of Michigan asked for reconsideration in its ballot access lawsuit, Socialist Party of Michigan v Land, in Ingham County Circuit Court. On August 18, the judge had ruled that the party had filed the case too late. The brief for reconsideration points out that Michigan can’t start printing its November ballot yet anyway, because the lawsuit over whether the Tea Party should be on the ballot is still unresolved.
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ballot access laws in this country, which the average voter
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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)
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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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