Link to Primary Election Returns for Four Political Parties in Nebraska

Posted on by May 11, 2022
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On May 10, Nebraska held primaries for four parties: Republican, Democratic, Libertarian, and Legal Marijuana Now. Here is a link to the statewide primary returns. At least 1,824 voters chose a Libertarian primary ballot. At least 863 voters chose a Legal Marijuana Now primary ballot.

In 2018, when the Libertarian Party was the only qualified third party, 1,269 voters chose the Libertarian primary ballot.

Nebraska has partisan registration. The Democratic, Libertarian, and Legal Marijuana Now Parties let independents vote in their primary for all partisan office.

Arizona Supreme Court Issues Opinion in “Insurrection” Qualifications Case

Posted on by May 10, 2022
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On May 9, the Arizona Supreme Court issued a very short opinion in Hansen v Finchem, cv-22-0099. This is the case filed by voters who want to challenge the qualifications of two sitting members of Congress, and a state legislator, over the “insurrection” language in the Fourteenth Amendment.

The decision says, “By its terms, the statute’s scope is limited to challenges based upon ‘qualifications…as prescribed by law’ and does not include the Disqualification Clause, a legal proscription from holding office.” This seems to say that challenges can only be brought against candidates who don’t meet state laws (as opposed to federal laws) on qualifications. Arizona state law sets out age qualifications for candidates for congress, but doesn’t mention insurrection.

The result thus agrees with the decision of the lower state court, although the reasoning is different from the lower court’s reasoning. Thanks to Thomas Jones for this news.

Grassroots Legalize Cannabis Party Will Try to Block Insincere Candidates from its Primary

Posted on by May 10, 2022
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This news story says that the Grassroots Legalize Cannabis Party, which has its own primary in Minnesota, will try to keep insincere candidates from filing in its primary.

Minnesota has an open primary. There is no registration by party, and any voter is free to file to run in any party’s primary; also any voter is free to choose any party’s primary ballot.

Maine Bill Letting Independents Vote in Partisan Primaries Becomes Law

Posted on by May 9, 2022
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On May 9, Maine LD 231 finally became law. It lets independent voters choose a partisan primary ballot, without having to join that party on the spot. Governor Janet Mills did not sign it, but she let it become law without her signature.

It took a long time for this bill to pass. It was introduced in early 2021 and passed both chambers in 2021, but then it was laid on the budget table, meaning it still hadn’t passed until the budget was settled. On April 25, 2022, it was finally removed from the budget table.

Missouri Top-Four Initiative Submits 300,000 Signatures

Posted on by May 8, 2022
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On May 8, backers of a top-four system for Missouri submitted approximately 300,000 signatures on their initiative. The initiative needs approximately 170,000 signatures. If the voters enact it, it will be exceedingly difficult for qualified minor parties to remain ballot-qualified. Current law says they stay on the ballot if they poll 2% for any statewide race at either of the last two elections. But under the initiative, parties no longer have nominees (except for President), so a party can only remain on the ballot if it can get 2% for President, which is difficult and rarely happens.