Ballot Access News | Edited By Richard Winger

Americans Elect Submits Wyoming Petition

Posted on February 3, 2012 by admin

On February 2, Americans Elect submitted its Wyoming petition. It needed 3,740 signatures and submitted more than 8,000, according to this news story. The reason Americans Elect submitted so many is that Wyoming takes the position that registered voters who didn’t vote in November 2010 are not eligible to sign, because Wyoming thinks of these people as “inactive”.

Most states would not be permitted to take that position, because of federal legislation passed in 1993 that forbides states to purge voters unless they have missed two congressional elections in a row. However, the federal law exempts states that have election-day registration, and Wyoming has election-day registration. The Country Party petition in Wyoming was rejected last year, because of Wyoming’s policy on voters who didn’t vote in 2010. However, the Country Party is being allowed to submit more signatures. Thanks to Mike Fellows for the link.

Opening Brief Filed in 9th Circuit in Lawsuit that Challenges Two Aspects of California’s Top-Two Law

Posted on February 2, 2012 by admin

On February 2, Michael Chamness filed his opening brief in Chamness v Bowen in the 9th circuit. This is the case that challenges two particular aspects of California’s system that are not present in Washington state’s top-two system: (1) some candidates may choose a party label and others may not; (2) write-in space is printed on ballots but write-ins can’t be counted, in November elections for Congress and state office.

The legislature recently enacted a bill, AB 1413, to eliminate write-in space form the ballot, but that bill has not yet been signed.

Roseanne Barr Entry into the Green Party Presidential Process Gets Media Attention

Posted on February 2, 2012 by admin

The Associated Press has this story about Roseanne Barr’s announcement that she is seeking the Green Party presidential nomination. UPDATE: here is a Los Angeles Times story about Barr’s candidacy.

Virginia Bill, Allowing Write-ins in Party Primaries, is Amended to Let Each Party Decide if it Wants Write-ins in its Primary

Posted on February 2, 2012 by admin

On February 2, Virginia HB 1132 was amended. As originally introduced, it said that write-in votes are permitted in primaries. As amended, it gives each party the authority to decide for itself whether it wants write-ins in its primaries.

Utah Bill, Making it Easier for Political Parties to Remain Ballot-Qualified, Passes Committee

Posted on February 2, 2012 by admin

On February 2, the Utah House Government Operations Committee passed HB 233. The bill says if a party passes the 2% vote test, it is then on the ballot for the next four years, instead of just the next two years.

San Francisco Supervisors Will Vote on February 14 Whether to Put two Voting Systems Questions on Ballot

Posted on February 2, 2012 by admin

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors will decide, either on February 7 or February 14, whether to place a ballot measure on the ballot, or perhaps two ballot measures on the ballot, concerning Instant Runoff Voting. One measure that may be put on the ballot is to eliminate IRV, and return to the system of two rounds of elections for city office. The other idea that may be placed on the ballot is to expand IRV so that each voter may indicate more choices for any one office other than just First, Second and Third Choice.

If the Board approves putting either of these measures on the ballot, or both of them, the Board will also decide whether to put them on the June ballot or the November ballot. The date of the February hearing should be clearer on February 3. UPDATE: the Supervisors cannot act to put the measures on the ballot until their February 14 meeting. But they could table either or both measures on February 7. Thanks to Steve Hill for this news.