Idaho Libertarians Have a Contested Primary for Governor

Posted on by March 18, 2022
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The Idaho primaries are May 17. This year, two individuals filed for the Idaho Libertarian nomination for Governor, so election officials will print up Libertarian primary ballots. When parties have no contested primaries, no primary ballots are prepared. It is believed 2022 will have the first actual Idaho Libertarian primary ballots.

Here is the candidate list. The qualified parties in Idaho are Republican, Democratic, Libertarian, and Constitution.

Here is a newspaper story about the 2022 Idaho Libertarian primary.

Oregon Bill Easing Definition of a Qualified Party Passes

Posted on by March 18, 2022
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On March 3, the Oregon legislature passed SB 1527. Among other provisions, it eases the definition of a qualified party. It lowers the percentage of registered voters needed for a party to remain qualified from one-half of 1% of the total registration, to one-fourth of 1%.

Oregon also lets a party remain ballot-qualified party if it polls 1% for any statewide race at either of the last two elections (although such parties must have registration of at least one-tenth of 1%).

The part of SB 1527 that eases the definition of a party was amended into the bill just a few days before the legislature adjourned. The House passed the amended bill on March 3, and the Senate concurred in that amendment the same day. The bill saves the qualified status of the Working Families Party.

Indiana Legislature Adjourns After Having Passed Only Two Election Law Bills

Posted on by March 18, 2022
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The Indiana legislature adjourned on March 9. The entire 2022 legislative session only passed two bills relating to election law. One makes it illegal for local governments to accept private donations intended to help that local government with election administration; the other relates to electronic poll books.

The ballot access bill, which has been introduced every session for the last five sessions, failed to make any headway.

Congressional Bill for Proportional Representation Has Gained No Co-Sponsors Since June 14, 2021

Posted on by March 18, 2022
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The best election law bill in Congress is HB 3863, which Virginia Congressman Donald Beyer introduced on June 11, 2021. It would convert most U.S. House elections to the Single Transferable Vote system, and would create much larger U.S. House districts. If enacted, it would substantially ease the gerrymandering problem. Unfortunately, it has not gained any co-sponsors other than the original seven co-sponsors.

Millions of dollars are being spent by wealthy individuals to promote state initiatives to abolish partisan primaries and create top-four or top-five systems. It is unfortunate that those same individuals aren’t instead promoting HR 3863.

The original co-sponsors are Jamie Raskin of Maryland, Jim Cooper of Tennessee, Ro Khanna of California, Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, Scott Peters of California, Joe Neguse of Colorado, and Earl Blumenauer of Oregon. All are Democrats.