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May 14th, 2013
The deadline has now passed in the North Carolina legislature for bills to have passed out of the policy committee in the house of origin. Many election law bills failed to meet that deadline. They include HB 185, to alter the order of political parties on the ballot; HB 38, to abolish run-off primaries; SB 39, to make judicial elections partisan; and SB 82 and HB 185, to abolish the straight-ticket device.
May 14th, 2013
The Texas House will vote on May 15 on SJR 13. This is a proposed constitutional amendment that would impose term-limits on statewide executive posts, including Governor. The proposal would limit office-holders to two consecutive terms. Service before 2014 would not count against any office-holder. The proposal has passed the Senate and the policy committee in the House. If it is signed into law, the voters will vote on it in November 2013. Thanks to Jim Riley for this news.
May 14th, 2013
Law Professor Vikram Amar has just made this scholarly paper available. It analyzes whether or not the initiative process can be used to alter state laws on presidential elector selection, and concludes that Article Two does not bar the use of initiatives for that purpose. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.
May 14th, 2013
The Massachusetts Joint Committee on Election Laws will hear H 652 on Wednesday, May 15, at 2 p.m. The bill says each U.S. House district should elect its own presidential elector.
May 13th, 2013
On May 13, the Maine Joint Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee defeated LD 1422, a bill that would have established ranked-choice voting for congressional and state office, and also established a presidential primary. This was a peculiar bill, because those are two entirely different subjects wrapped up in the same bill. Thanks to FrontloadingHQ for this news.
May 13th, 2013
On the evening of May 14, the North Carolina House passed HB 794 by a vote of 109-5. The bill requires the legislature to appoint a committee composed of state legislators who will study ballot access after the 2013 sitting is over. The committee will take public testimony and prepare a report, and the 2014 half of this current session will then address the issue. UPDATE: here is a news story that mentions this outcome.
May 13th, 2013
The United Independent Party, which exists only in Massachusetts, is attempting to qualify for party status. See here for the party’s web page, which asks readers to change their voter registration to join the party. If it can persuade 1% of the registered voters to join the party, it will be a qualified party.
The group is running Evan Falchuk for Governor in 2014. He is vice-president of Best Doctors, Inc., a company that helps companies deal with health insurance and also helps individuals to obtain second opinions for health problem diagnoses. If the party is unable to qualify by registration, Falchuk can get on the November 2014 with the party label by submitting 10,000 valid signatures next year.
Ever since 1991, it has been theoretically possible for a group to attain party status by persuading 1% of the voters to register into the party, but no group has ever successfully used this method.
May 13th, 2013
On May 13, the North Carolina Green Party, and the North Carolina Constitution Party, filed this opening brief in the 4th circuit. The case challenges the mid-May petition deadline for newly-qualifying parties. The case is Pisano v Bartlett, 13-1368.
May 13th, 2013
On May 13, two members of the U.S. House introduced a proposed constitutional amendment guaranteeing all adult citizens the right to vote. The sponsors are Keith Ellison (D-Minnesota) and Mark Pocan (D-Wisconsin). The bill number hasn’t been assigned yet.
The proposed amendment reads, “Section 1. Every citizen of the United States, who is of legal voting age, shall have the fundamental right to vote in any public election held in the jurisdiction in which the citizen resides. Section 2. Congress shall have the power to enforce and implement this article by appropriate legislation.”
If this were enacted, ex-felons and felons in all states were gain the franchise. It is not clear whether the amendment, if enacted, could be used to strike down restrictive ballot access laws for candidates. The U.S. Supreme Court has said in the past, “The right to vote includes the right of choice for whom to vote.” Certainly a voter in Oklahoma, a state that has prevented its voters from voting for anyone for President other than the Democratic and Republican nominees in each of the last three presidential general elections, would have a strong case against the Oklahoma ballot access laws. Thanks to Rick Hasen for news about the proposed amendment.
May 13th, 2013
As of May 6, 2013, Idaho reports these voter registration figures: Republican 239,002; Democratic 55,254; independent or miscellaneous 439,715; Libertarian 3,156; Constitution 1,500.
Voter registration by party is new in Idaho. It only started in 2012. The tally last year showed far fewer members of parties, since the procedure was new and party totals essentially started from zero. The 2012 figures, for example, only showed 362 Libertarians and 225 Constitution Party members.
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Welcome
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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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Issues
available: |
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2013:
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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)
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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)
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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]
- 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]
- 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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