This is today’s Cato Institute podcast, hosted by Caleb Brown, with Walter Olson discussing Ranked Choice Voting.
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The 2020 case filed in New Jersey against discriminatory ballot format in primaries will soon undergo settlement talks. Coonforti v Hanlon, 3:20cv-8267. This is the case over the ballot format in 19 of New Jersey’s 21 counties, in which the primary candidates favored by the party organization receive a superior spot on the ballot. That system was enjoined earlier this year.
In recent months, the Democratic Parties of Union County and Middlesex County have stopped supporting the old law, as has the Burlington County Clerk.
It seems likely that the New Jersey legislature will address ballot format next year. It is hoped that New Jersey’s minor parties will participate in the legislative process, so that the discriminatory ballot format in the general election can also be fixed.
This reads as if one casino owner is trying to stave off competition. Kind of like our ballot access laws.
Here is the story from the Associated Press.
The Florida Secretary of State has released a registration tally as of September 24, 2024. The numbers are: Republican 5,397,992; Democratic 4,366,263; Independent Party 265,518; Libertarian 35,446; Conservative 28,003; Constitution 19,752; No Labels 14,167; Green 8,788; Boricua 8,758; Coalition with a Purpose 4,144; Ecology 3,191; Socialism & Liberation 2,080; Peoples 1,482; American Solidarity 1,301; Forward 693; Natural Law 515; Reform 178; independent and miscellaneous 3,547,924.
Totals in April 2024 were: Republican 5,239,600; Democratic 4,346,491; Independent Party 242,330; Libertarian 35,357; Conservative 19,903; Constitution 16,434; No Labels 8,355; Green 7,841; Boricua 5,974; Coalition with a Purpose 3,283; Ecology 2,919; Socialism & Liberation 1,894; Peoples 1,321; Forward 496; independent and miscellaneous 3,530,804.
Current percentages, for parties with at least .10%, are: Republican 39.38%; Democratic 31.86%; Independent Party 1.94%; Libertarian .26%; Conservative .20%; Constitution .14%; No Labels .10%.
Percentages in April 2024 for parties that had at least .10% at that time were: Republican 38.92%; Democratic 32.28%; Independent Party 1.80%; Libertarian .26%; Conservative .15%; Constitution .12%.
A U.S. District Court will hear Stein v LaRose, s.d., 2:24cv-04042, on Tuesday, October 22. This is the case over whether Jill Stein’s votes should be counted. She is on the ballot in Ohio, but after the ballots were printed, the Secretary of State said he would not count her votes, because he perceived that her vice-presidential candidate had withdrawn, even though the vice-presidential candidate had not withdrawn.
Some evidence was taken on Wednesday, October 16, at the status conference.