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Minnesota Libertarian Party Files Reply Brief in Eighth Circuit Ballot Access Case

Posted on October 16, 2020 by Richard WingerOctober 16, 2020

On October 14, the Minnesota Libertarian Party filed this reply brief in the Eighth Circuit, in Libertarian Party of Minnesota v Choi, 20-2244. This is the lawsuit that challenges several Minnesota ballot access restrictions, including the requirement that the general election candidate petition include language saying the voter doesn’t intend to vote for the same office in the upcoming primary, a law that is completely unenforceable but which makes it more difficult to persuade voters to sign.

New Florida Registration Data

Posted on October 16, 2020 by Richard WingerOctober 16, 2020

On October 16, the Florida Secretary of State released new registration data, as of October 6. Here is a link.

All political parties except the Democratic Party increased their share of the registration, relative to the previous tally, which was as of July 20, 2020. The percentage of independent voters declined.

The new percentages: Democratic 36.72%; Republican 35.79%; Independent Party 1.13%; Libertarian .27%; Green .051%; Constitution .017%; Reform .0102%; Party for Socialism & Liberation .008%; Ecology .0063%; independent and miscellaneous 25.99%.

The percentages in July 2020 were: Democratic 37.20%; Republican 35.47%; Independent Party .91%; Libertarian .25%; Green .047%; Constitution .015%; Reform .0099%; Party for Socialism & Liberation .006%; Ecology .0056%; independent and miscellaneous 26.08%.

The Florida registration form lists a checkbox for the Democratic and Republican Parties, and for “no party affiliation”. Below that is a blank line if anyone wishes to register into any other party, qualified or not. The registration form does not list the qualified parties. It says if the applicant wishes to see a list of the qualified parties, to see the Secretary of State’s website, but anyone who does so will not find the list of qualified parties unless they know to choose the link “candidates and committees.”

Florida Newspaper Story Has Links to All Major Florida Editorial Recommendations on Top-Two Initiative

Posted on October 15, 2020 by Richard WingerOctober 15, 2020

This Florida news story has links to all the editorial positions of major Florida newspapers on Amendment Three, the top-two initiative. The big newspapers are about evenly split.

Minnesota Republican Nominee for U.S. House Asks Eighth Circuit for a Stay of the U.S. District Court Order on Election Timing

Posted on October 14, 2020 by Richard WingerOctober 14, 2020

On October 13, Tyler Kistner, Republican nominee for Minnesota’s U.S. House seat, 2nd district, asked for a stay of the U.S. District Court order that the election should proceed on November 3. Craig v Simon, 20-3126. Thanks to Jim Riley for this news.

California Secretary of State Releases Results of High School “Mock Election” for President

Posted on October 14, 2020 by Richard WingerOctober 14, 2020

Some California high schools hold a mock presidential election, with assistance from the Secretary of State, who furnishes participating schools with mock ballots. The mock ballots are identical to real California ballots.

On October 12, the Secretary of State released the state totals from this mock election for president: Biden 28,730 (67.64%); Trump 7,638 (17.98%); La Riva 2,386 (5.62%); De La Fuente 1,833 (4.32%); Hawkins 1,149 (2.71%); Jorgensen 740 (1.74%). The Secretary of State’s press release makes no mention of write-in votes, although California presidential ballots do include write-in space, unlike California general election ballots for congress and partisan state office.