On May 2, the California Senate passed SB 27. This is the bill to keep presidential primary candidates off the ballot if they don’t release the last five years of their income tax returns. The vote was 27-10, with all Democrats who voted voting “yes”, and all Republicans who voted voting “no.” Now the bill goes to the Assembly.
The bill does not prevent anyone from filing as a write-in candidate in a presidential primary.
California’s representation in the House should be reduced based on its infringing on infringing on infringing on the right to vote in a presidential election.
How soon before SCOTUS gets a Prez income tax case ???
Just in time BEFORE ballots are printed in 2019-2020 ??? — IE more time deadline CRISIS cases.
@Jim
Primaries aren’t protected, nor required, by the federal constitution at all… they’re private elections held to determine a nominee for a state party…. they just happen to be publicly funded… by the state. If all parties where granted the same status at all times and it was the first round in a two round system… then maybe you’d have a point… but that’s not what primaries are, even in California (at least for president). The other thing to note is that in presidential primaries you’re voting for an actual candidate… in the general you’re voting for electors.
Andrew, generally I agree, but technically voters in a presidential primary are voting for candidates for Delegate to the national convention, not for the presidential candidate directly, unless it’s just a “beauty contest” presidential primary, which is uncommon.
A.
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ALL or SOME PUBLIC Electors/Voters nominate – to get candidate names on the PUBLIC general election ballots.
PUBLIC primaries are part of the PUBLIC nomination ***process/system***.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_primaries
Primaries – See 24 Amdt [1964] —
Amendment XXIV
The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
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Extremist private gangs can/do endorse various hack extremist candidates.
@Andrew,
See ‘Smith v Allwright’, ‘Terry v Adams’, and ‘Tashjian’ (Stevens’ dissent and Part IV of main opinion).
Primaries don’t just happen to be publicly funded. They are an integral part of a government process by which voters choose their government officers, in this case, presidential electors. The bill would infringe on the right of voters to vote for presidential electors by handicapping certain candidates.
Richard:
Are you currently aware of any 2020 Presidential primary(ies) that will be a ‘beauty contest”?