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Pennsylvania Supreme Court Delays Petitioning for 2022 Primary Election

Posted on February 10, 2022 by Richard WingerFebruary 10, 2022

On February 9, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued an order in Carter v Chapman, 7 MM 2022. The one-sentence order says that the 2022 election calendar is suspended until the Court decides the case on the boundaries of U.S. House and legislative districts. This means it is somewhat likely that the primary will be postponed. It had been set for May.

It would be much easier if the state permitted candidates to get on primary ballots by paying a filing fee, but the concept of eliminating mandatory petitions to get on a primary ballot is alien to Pennsylvania. No one in Pennsylvania state government ever seems to suggest the idea, even though that is policy in a majority of states.

No California General Media Mentions that Common Sense Party Failed to Qualify for 2022 Election

Posted on February 10, 2022 by Richard WingerFebruary 10, 2022

Although the California Secretary of State revealed on February 9 that the Common Sense Party had failed to qualify for the 2022 election, no general news media in California has yet reported that news. This is odd, because before the deadline several large newspapers had lengthy articles about the party. The party is headed by former Congressman Tom Campbell, who was twice the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in California.

Georgia 2022 Primary Might be Delayed

Posted on February 10, 2022 by Richard WingerFebruary 10, 2022

According to this story, the U.S. District Court Judge who is hearing the Georgia redistricting lawsuit suggested in court that if he finds the districts illegal, he might move the primary to a later date. Thanks to Fairvote for the link.

Common Sense Party Fails to Qualify in California

Posted on February 9, 2022 by Richard WingerFebruary 9, 2022

On February 9, the California Secretary of State released new registration data. It shows that the Common Sense Party has 30,882 registrants. Although that is a big increase for the party since the last tally, it is not enough to qualify. The party had 17,322 registrants at the previous tally, which was as of August 31, 2021. The requirement appears to be 72,618, although the Common Sense Party believes the requirement is 55,601.

Here is a link to the Secretary’s Report of Registration.

Percentages for the qualified parties are: Democratic 46.70%; Republican 23.95%; American Independent 3.32%; Libertarian 1.00%; Peace & Freedom .51%; Green .41%. The percentage of voters in unqualified parties, unknown, and independent, combined, is 24.10%.

At the last tally, in August 2021, the percentages were: Democratic 46.54%; Republican 24.02%; American Independent 3.24%; Libertarian .97%; Peace & Freedom .50%; Green .40%; independent plus unknown and unqualified parties, 24.31%. The only categories that declined were Republican and independent-miscellaneous.

Oregon Ballot Access Bill

Posted on February 9, 2022 by Richard WingerFebruary 9, 2022

On February 1, the Oregon House Rules Committee introduced HB 4044. It eases the registration test for parties to remain ballot-qualified. Currently parties remain on the ballot if they polled 1% for any statewide office at either of the last two elections, or if they have registration of one-half of 1%. The bill would lower the registration test to one-fourth of 1%. The bill was introduced at the request of the Working Families Party.