The New York Independence Party has a tradition of choosing its presidential nominee at the last possible moment. In 2000, it chose John Hagelin on September 24. In 2004, it chose Ralph Nader on September 26.
State chair Frank MacKay says this tradition will continue this year. The most likely date for the party to choose its presidential candidate is September 21, a Sunday.
New York state is able to cope with late decisions because it uses mechanical voting machines. One advantage of mechanical voting machines is that they can be easily and quickly set up. Elections officials don’t need to print entire ballots; they merely must print up narrow strips of paper which are inserted into the right slots on the face of the machines. However, New York will be giving up its mechanical voting machines after the November 2008 election, since the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) outlawed them.
Richard,
Thank You for the news of our sister party in New York.
It is our understanding in Virginia that the Independent Greens of Virginia http://www.VoteJoinRun.US
have a similar situation. With the final determination of our ballot line.
We’ve collected, and delivered about 15,000 signatures for our Presidential Ballot line to date.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Congressman Ron Paul are the candidate names on the petition collected since January 1, 2008.
We started the 2008 drive appropriately in Independence, Virginia in near zero temperatures with snow flying.
Signature collecting now continues in Virginia’s July heat.
Thank You.
Carey Campbell
State Chairman, Independent Greens of Virginia http://www.VoteJoinRun.US
Who is seeking the nomination Richard? Is there still time for others to seek the nomination?
Of course there is plenty of time for a presidential candidate to make a pitch to leaders of the NY State Independence Party.
“However, New York will be giving up its mechanical voting machines after the November 2008 election, since the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) outlawed them.”
That’s progress. 🙂
Thank you for your persistent efforts, Carey Campbell. What will the Independent Green Party do if (as they probably will) Michael Bloomberg and Ron Paul turn down the nominations? How about nominating Ralph Nader and Matt Gonzalez?
NY Independence has nominated candidates with national ballot presence, so the short list is:
Bob Barr
Cynthia McKinney
Chuck Baldwin
Ralph Nader
I’d put my money on Barr this year.
Why not Ralph Nader and Matt Gonzalez?
Frank MacKay controls the party and it looks like he’s backing McCain.
Well Nader was not dependent on the N.Y Independence Party for ballot access in 2004 since he already had enough signatures to make the ballot by the time they gave him their nomination. I hope the same is true this election cycle as I believe about 1/4 of Nader’s votes in 04 came from NY.
P2008: That total would have been greatly increased if California would have had him on ballot access.
CORRECTION: “However, New York will be giving up its mechanical voting machines after the November 2008 election, since the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) outlawed them.”
HAVA did not outlaw lever voting machines. As State Board Commissioner Kellner testified:
“The federal Help America Vote Act, 42 USC §§15301 et seq., will require substantial changes in election administration for the 2006 elections. In particular, 42 USC § 15481, sets minimum standards for voting machines. Our lever machines satisfy all but one of those standards, that there be at least one machine at each poll site that is ‘accessible for individuals with disabilities, including non-visual accessibility for the blind and visually impaired, in a manner that provides the same opportunity for access and participation (including privacy and independence) as for other voters.”
NY ignored all the reports of computerized voting system failures and enacted ERMA in 2005 (amended in 2007) wherein it voluntarily decided to replace reliable lever voting machines with systems run on undetectably mutable software.
That’s not progress; that’s stupidity.
I doubt the Independence Party will go for Barr. The Libertarians have had no problems in getting the 15,000 signatures needed to place their Presidential candidate on the ballot over the last several elections, even though there are only 1,065 active Libertarians registered in the State. Therefore, McKay wouldn’t waste his nomination on a candidate that is virtually assured of getting on anyway.
As for the voting machines, the State law says that these lever operated machines can’t even be used for school budget votes after this year, which is a shame, as many towns just spent thousands of dollars to purchase new machines or upkeep the old ones. Many school districts wanted them for their budget votes but now also need to turn to the electronic machines. As long as the lever action machine is proved to be in working condition, there is no need to ban them for these low level type voting situations.
Messer MacKay will support the candiadte that will be willing to put the most cash in his pockets.
Messer MacKay and his shill group he calls is a “Political Party” is the ultimate example of political prostitution. I hope all those California Reform blokes use protection when they are between the political sheets with him, come to think of it, they are as dirty as he is, so good ridence to bad rubish.