On October 28, the California Secretary of State posted the list of declared presidential write-in candidates. See it here. Only five candidates qualified. The state requires notarized forms to be signed by each candidate for presidential elector, and will not accept a filing without 55 candidates.
Bernie Sanders is on the list. California is the only state in which a write-in slate of presidential electors may file without the consent of the presidential candidate whom they are pledged to. The same procedure was used in California in 2008 and 2012 to cause write-ins for Ron Paul to be counted, even though Ron Paul did not file himself and had no wish to be a candidate in November of either year.
So . . . will Sanders tell them all again to vote for Clinton instead? (And if so, how many will stick with him anyway, how many will do as he suggests, and how many will split off to others or skip the Presidential race on the ballot?)
It is good to see the Socialist Equality Party get their ticket certified. They have chosen to lay low this year preferring to use their Campaign as an organizing tool rather than chase votes.
Regrettably it looks like Workers World Party was trying to get write-in status. It looks like the Split with PSL has mortally wounded them.
Bernie Sanders ought to be miffed by this development. I hope he gets thousands of votes just to serve the Crotchedy Old Coot right for toying with the American Electorate !
The Secretary of Virginia also posted their write-in list.
This is the link:
http://www.elections.virginia.gov/Files/CastYourBallot/CandidateList/CertifiedWrite-in-USPresVicePres2016.pdf
It’s shocking that Maturen of the Solidarity Party made it but Castle and Hoefling didn’t it, and Fuente didn’t make it either. Anybody know why?
Looks like Castle’s write-in is still pending in California: http://www.constitutionparty.com/get-involved/election-central/ballot-access/
Unlike the CA GOP these slates came up with 55 Presidential Electors that look qualified, viz., not
holding an office of trust of the United States.
Jeff, was the CP site updated today? this was the final list so it looks like they failed, unfortunately.
How does a state stop an elector slate from filing? Just call yourselves unpledged, if necessary, but make it clear which candidate you’re supportiing.
Somebody should advertise for the Sanders write-in elector slate. (At least there are 55 of them, not 108.)
And if you’re a supporter of Castle or Hoefling, write them in anyway.
California election statutes are totally messed up because instead of having a section dealing with the election of presidential electors, it has sections for the regulation of individual political parties.
It appears that when California switched from electing individual electors, that they did not state how the winning slate would be chosen. The closest they come is instructions that are supposed to be printed on ballots, but apparently are not.
It is not required that a slate of independent candidates for presidential elector have a presidential and vice-presidential candidate, but rather that if all 55 agree on a presidential and vice presidential candidate, the names of those candidates are printed on the ballot.
Slates of write-in elector candidates have to specify presidential and vice presidential candidates, since that is the way that a voter indicates which slate they are supporting.
Tim,
In Texas, it is the independent (or write-in) presidential candidate who files. They include the name of the vice-presidential candidate and the 38 elector candidates, each of whom must provide their permission.
Richard, I think we could have done this in Massachusetts too if we’d started earlier.
Waste of a vote. I’m voting for Jill Stein (similar ot Sanders in domestic policies). If Green Party candidate Jill Stein receives 5% of the popular vote nationwide, then the Greens get decent federal funding for the next campaign in 2020. We know the Dems will only continue to get more right wing as they have done for the past 20 years. Damn, Clinton is such a warmonger, pro-fracking, pro offshore oil drilling, anti-whistle blower, stomp on civil liberties, corporatist candidate. Sickening.
I hope California voters vote for Jill Stein and Gary Johnson in large numbers.I still want to see the race thrown to the house of Representatives.And have California Governor Jerry Brown or New York Governor Andrew coumo.as comprised Candidates.