New York Times Finally Covers the 2020 Law that Resulted in Only Two Candidates on Ballot for Governor

Posted on by July 28, 2022
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The New York Times has this story about the fact that no minor party gubernatorial petitions succeeded this year, as a result of the 2020 law that tripled the number of signatures for statewide office, and also increased the vote test for qualified party status from 50,000 votes to 2%. Thanks to PoliticalWire for the link.

As the article says, a State Supreme Court in Albany is still considering whether to grant injunctive relief to the statewide Libertarian slate. Also the Second Circuit will hear a similar federal case in early September. The article does not mention the Second Circuit case.

The story gives prominent mention to the fact that this is the first time since 1946 that New York has had only two candidates on the general election ballot for Governor. It could have added that 1946 is the only year like that since the beginning of government-printed ballots in 1890.

The Libertarian cases pending in State Court in Albany are Sharpe v New York State Board of Elections, 4989-22, and Hollister v New York State Board of Elections, 4990-22.

SAM Party Merges with the Forward Party

Posted on by July 28, 2022
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On July 27, the SAM Party announced that it has merged into the Forward Party. The press release says the Renew America Movement (which, so far, has been a pressure group, not a political party) is joining as well. The name of the combined party will be “Forward Party.”

As far as is known, neither the SAM Party nor the Forward Party is on the ballot for any statewide office in 2022, in any state. The group will focus its efforts on the 2024 election. UPDATE: see this story.

Here is the website for the Forward Party.

Lawsuit is Pending in Three-Judge Court to Enforce 14th Amendment’s Penalty Clause for Denial of Voting Rights

Posted on by July 27, 2022
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The Fourteenth Amendment, Section 2, says that if any state abridges the right to vote “in any way”, it should lose seats in the U.S. House in proportion to the number of voters whose voting rights have been injured. This powerful provision has never been enforced.

A lawsuit is pending in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., that would require the Census Bureau to enforce the provision. The Census Bureau is responsible for calculating how many seats in the U.S. House each state is entitled to, after every census. The case is Citizens for Constitutional Integrity v Census Bureau, 1:21cv-3045. Here is the amended complaint filed March 21, 2022. Thanks to Michael Drucker for this news. Three judges have been assigned to the case.

Kansas Libertarian Party Endorses “No” Vote on Statewide Ballot Measure on August 2 Ballot

Posted on by July 27, 2022
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The Kansas primary is on August 2. The ballot contains one statewide measure, the “Kansas No State Constitutional Right to Abortion and Legislative Power to Regulate Abortion Amendment.” Unlike most states, Kansas does not put a number or a letter on the ballot to designate particular measures, which makes it awkward to prepare a bumper sticker or a yard sign.

According to this press release, the Kansas Libertarian Party, one of only three qualified parties in Kansas, recommends a “no” vote.