If anyone can assist with my research project, please comment below, or else send me an e-mail at richardwinger@yahoo.com. The research project is to determine which state constitutions mention political parties. It has already been determined that the state constitutions of at least 34 states do mention them.
If anyone can find any mention of “political party” or “partisan” or “non-partisan” in the text of these 16 state Constitutions, please let me know: Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin. I have already read the state constitutions of these 16 states, and I can’t find any of the terms. But it is easy to miss a short phrase in a lengthy document, and possibly one of you will find something I missed. Thank you very much.
I checked Massachusetts to see how long it would take me, in case I might have time to do all of them.
Massachusetts mentions political parties in Articles of Amendment Art. LXXXVI: “Names of candidates of political parties for the offices of governor and lieutenant-governor shall be grouped on the official ballot for use at state elections according to the parties they represent…”
Unfortunately, this did take too long for me to go through all of them now, but feel free to send me an email if you find someone who would split them up with me.
VA Const., Art. II, §3, paragraph 1.
“In elections by the people, the following safeguards shall be maintained: Voting shall be by ballot or by machines for receiving, recording, and counting votes cast. No ballot or list of candidates upon any voting machine shall bear any distinguishing mark or symbol, other than words identifying political party affiliation; and their form, including the offices to be filled and the listing of candidates or nominees, shall be as uniform as is practicable throughout the Commonwealth or smaller governmental unit in which the election is held.”
Thanks! Also someone else e-mailed me a mention in Pennsylvania’s constitution, so that is also off the list now. I’ll keep updating any further progress here.
Virginia’s Constitution also mentions political parties in Article II, section 8, dealing with party representation on electoral boards and as officers of election.
In relation to these issues, the definition of “political party” in this context is very much at issue in Fairfax County Democratic Committee v. Quinn, in which I am co-counsel for FCDC.
I am looking forward to the results of your survey.
West Virginia and Vermont do not i believe
ALL robot party hack stuff in constitutions and laws = asking for civil war, purges and tyrants.
See the ROT of the Roman Republic in 120 BC to 27 BC.
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P.R. and nonpartisan App.V.
Copy and paste the usual suspect articles especially – elections, etc. into any new age text program.
Do a word search for the usual suspect robot party hack words.
Hi there, I noticed your website on http://www.
ballot-access.org/2013/04/22/appeal-to-readers-for-research-assistance/ at the same time as
browsing for a corresponding subject, your blog came up, it seems great.
I’ve bookmarked it in my google book marks.
I found the phrase “political party” in the WV Const. section (amendment) establishing the Citizens’ Legislative Compensation Commission:
6-33. Compensation and expenses of members.
Members of the Legislature shall receive such compensation in connection with the performance of their respective duties as members of the Legislature and such allowances for travel and other expenses in connection therewith as shall be (1) established in a resolution submitted to the Legislature by the Citizens Legislative Compensation Commission hereinafter created, and (2) thereafter enacted into general law by the Legislature at a regular session thereof, subject to such requirements and conditions as shall be prescribed in such general law. The Legislature may in any such general law reduce but shall not increase any item of compensation or expense allowance established in such resolution. All voting on the floor of both houses on the question of passage of any such general law shall be by yeas and nays to be entered on the journals.
The Citizens Legislative Compensation Commission is hereby created. It shall be composed of seven members who have been residents of this state for at least ten years prior to the date of appointment, to be appointed by the governor within twenty days after ratification of this amendment, no more than four of whom shall be members of the same >> political party <<. The members shall be broadly representative of the public at large. Members of the Legislature and officers and employees of the state or of any county, municipality or other governmental unit of the state shall not be eligible for appointment to or to serve as members of the commission. Each member of the commission shall serve for a term of seven years, except of the members first appointed, one member shall be appointed for a term of one year, and one each for terms ending two, three, four, five, six and seven years after the date of appointment. As the term of each member first appointed expires, a successor shall be appointed for a seven-year term. Any member may be reappointed for any number of terms, and any vacancy shall be filled by the governor for the unexpired term. Any member of the commission may be removed by the governor prior to the expiration of such member's term for official misconduct, incompetency or neglect of duty. The governor shall designate one member of the commission as chairman. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be entitled to be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties as such members.
The commission shall meet as often as may be necessary and shall within fifteen days after the beginning of the regular session of the Legislature in the year one thousand nine hundred seventy-one and within fifteen days after the beginning of the regular session in each fourth year thereafter submit by resolution to the Legislature its determination of compensation and expense allowances, which resolution must be concurred in by at least four members of the commission.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this constitution, such compensation and expense allowances as may be provided for by any such general law shall be paid on and after the effective date of such general law. Until the first such general law becomes effective, the provisions of this section in effect immediately prior to the ratification of this amendment shall continue to govern
I just checked the NH constitution, Part 1 Article 11 referenced elections and reads:
[Art.] 11. [Elections and Elective Franchises.] All elections are to be free, and every inhabitant of the state of 18 years of age and upwards shall have an equal right to vote in any election. Every person shall be considered an inhabitant for the purposes of voting in the town, ward, or unincorporated place where he has his domicile. No person shall have the right to vote under the constitution of this state who has been convicted of treason, bribery or any willful violation of the election laws of this state or of the United States; but the supreme court may, on notice to the attorney general, restore the privilege to vote to any person who may have forfeited it by conviction of such offenses. The general court shall provide by law for voting by qualified voters who at the time of the biennial or state elections, or of the primary elections therefor, or of city elections, or of town elections by official ballot, are absent from the city or town of which they are inhabitants, or who by reason of physical disability are unable to vote in person, in the choice of any officer or officers to be elected or upon any question submitted at such election. Voting registration and polling places shall be easily accessible to all persons including disabled and elderly persons who are otherwise qualified to vote in the choice of any officer or officers to be elected or upon any question submitted at such election. The right to vote shall not be denied to any person because of the non-payment of any tax. Every inhabitant of the state, having the proper qualifications, has equal right to be elected into office.
info about this article
June 2, 1784
Amended 1903 to provide that in order to vote or be eligible for office a person must be able to read the English language and to write.
Amended 19l2 to prohibit those convicted of treason, bribery or willfull violation of the election laws from voting or holding elective office.
Amended 1942 to provide for absentee voting in general elections.
Amended 1956 to provide for absentee voting in primary elections.
Amended 1968 to provide right to vote not denied because of nonpayment of taxes. Also amended in 1968 to delete an obsolete phrase.
Amended 1976 to reduce voting age to 18.
Amended 1984 to provide accessibility to all registration and polling places.
PS
nothing about “party” or “partisan”
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