New Mexico Registration Data

Posted on by February 4, 2021
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The New Mexico Secretary of State has released registration data as of January 29, 2021. The numbers: Democratic 611,357; Republican 425,651; Libertarian 12,798; Independent American 3,889; Green 3,641; Better for America 3,180; Constitution 783; independent and miscellaneous 298,809.

Percentages are: Democratic 44.95%; Republican 31.30%; Libertarian .94%; Independent American .29%; Green .27%; Better for America .23%; Constitution .06%; independent and miscellaneous 21.97%.

On September 30, 2020, the percentages were: Democratic 45.38%; Republican 31.12%; Libertarian .91%; Green .56%; Independent American .36%; Better for America .29%; Constitution .07%; independent and miscellaneous 21.31%.

Maine is Latest State to Reverse Course from Past Practice, and to Refuse to Tally Write-in Votes for Presidential Declared Write-in Candidates

Posted on by February 5, 2021
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The past few presidential elections have seen a depressing retrogression on the part of states, as to whether they will tally the write-in votes for declared write-in presidential candidates. The latest to backslide is Maine, where the Secretary of State now refuses to compile the tally, even though he did so in 2016.

Other states that formerlly tallied them, but have stopped, are Massachusetts, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, and Virginia.

In 2016 Maine tallied write-ins for Evan McMullin, Darrell Castle, and Laurence Kotlikoff.

As long ago as 1915, federal courts ruled that the U.S. Constitution protects the right of voters to have their valid votes counted. It is especially important that states with severe ballot access tally write-ins, and Maine is severe. No presidential petition in Maine succeeded in 2020 except for Jo Jorgensen’s petition, and Rocky De La Fuente’s petition. Thanks to Tony Roza for this sad news.

New York Bill to Move Presidential Primary to Late June

Posted on by February 3, 2021
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New York State Senator James Skoufis (D-Cornwall) has introduced S 1819, which would move the presidential primary to the fourth Tuesday in June. That is the same date as the primary for non-presidential office. The 2020 New York presidential primaries were also held in late June, but that was considered a temporary situation, because of the health crisis. The statute says the primary should be in February. Thanks to FrontloadingHQ for this news.

Peoples Party Will Attempt to Qualify as a Party in California

Posted on by February 3, 2021
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The Peoples Party has filed to be a political body in California. In California, a “political body” is an unqualified party that will attempt to become a qualified party. Groups that wish to be political parties must persuade approximately 68,000 people to fill out a new voter registration form showing themselves as members of that group.

The Peoples Party earlier had filed similar paperwork in Maine, which requires 5,000 registrations for party status.

U.S. Supreme Court Puts North Carolina Ballot Access Case on February 19 Conference

Posted on by February 3, 2021
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The U.S. Supreme Court will consider whether to hear Kopitke v Bell, 20-897, at its February 19 conference. This is the challenge to the North Carolina petition deadline for independent presidential candidates, which was moved to March 3 in 2018. It is expected that am amicus in support of the candidate will be filed soon.