Pennsylvania 2012 Statewide Minor Party & Independent Petition Likely to be 21,500 signatures

The number of signatures for a statewide minor party or independent candidatea in Pennsylvania in 2012 is likely to be approximately 21,500 signatures. The number is determined by calculating 2% of the vote cast on November 8, 2011, for David Wecht for Superior Court Judge. With 99% of the precincts reporting, Wecht has 1,017,499 votes. Besides the missing 1% of the precincts, his total will probably also rise when provisional ballots are tallied.

U.S. Court of Appeals Hears Oral Arguments in Postal Sidewalks Case

On November 9, the U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. circuit, heard oral arguments in Initiative & Referendum Institute v U.S. Postal Service, 10-5337, the lawsuit over whether the U.S. Constitution requires the post office to permit petitioning on its interior sidewalks. The three judges took a great interest in the case, and it is difficult to predict the outcome. The decision might come in a month or in a year.

Greens, Libertarians Win Some Local Elections, Including Some Partisan Elections

The Libertarian Party’s web page, and Green Party Watch, each have election results for November 8, 2011 elections. See here for the Libertarian Party list and here for Green Party Watch’s list.

Libertarians won partisan elections in Indiana and Pennsylvania, and non-partisan elections in Ohio. The Green Party won a partisan election in Connecticut, and non-partisan elections in California and Colorado.

Mississippi Election Returns for Reform Party Apparently Unreported by Any News Source

On November 8, Mississippi voters elected their state officers. The Reform Party had nominees for statewide office in five races: Lieutenant Governor, Auditor, Treasurer, Agriculture Commissioner, and Insurance Commissioner. No news source on the internet appears to have any report of the votes cast in these races. The Secretary of State’s web page does not yet have any election returns. In two of those statewide races, the Reform Party nominee was the only opponent to the Republican nominee. If any reader finds any Mississippi election returns for the lesser statewide offices, please add a comment.

Kentucky Election Returns

On November 8, Kentucky elected its statewide constitutional officers. For Governor, the vote is: Democrat Steve Beshear 55.6%; Republican David Williams 35.4%; independent Gatewood Galbraith 9.0%.

For Treasurer, the vote is: Democrat Todd Hollenbach 48.7%; Republican K. C. Crosbie 46.7%; Libertarian Ken Moellman 4.6%. See here for more Kentucky election returns.