Wisconsin Elections Commission Removes Howie Hawkins and Kanye West from Ballot

Posted on by August 21, 2020
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On August 20, the Wisconsin Election Commission removed Howie Hawkins and Kanye West from the November ballot. Hawkins’ petition was rejected because some of the signatures were collected on forms giving the old address of the vice-presidential nominee, and some on forms giving her new address. Kanye West was rejected because his petition was submitted past 5:00 pm on the filing deadline.

Hawkins will sue. In 2004 the Wisconsin Supreme Court put Ralph Nader on the ballot even though he did not have a presidential elector candidate in every U.S. House district. The Wisconsin Supreme Court said that requirement is “directory” in nature, meaning if the elector residency requirement is not met, that is not fatal to the petition. State ex rel Nader v Circuit Court for Dane County, decision of Sep. 30, 2004, 04-2559-W.

The vote was 3-3. All the Democratic Party representatives on the Commission voted against Hawkins; all the Republicans voted for him.

U.S. District Court Again Refuses Relief to Montana Green Party

Posted on by August 20, 2020
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On August 20, U.S. District Court Judge Dana Christensen refused to give the Montana Green Party any injunctive relief, while the party appeals yesterday’s order that removed it from the ballot.

Montana Secretary of State says the ballot must be certified on August 21, which is odd, because the Republican Party won’t nominate for president or vice-president until August 24. Some states haven’t even held their congressional primaries yet. The latest primary is Delaware’s September 15 primary.

Seventh Circuit Sustains the Ballot Access Relief for Illinois Minor Party and Independent Candidates

Posted on by August 20, 2020
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On August 20, the Seventh Circuit issued a six-page order in Libertarian Party of Illinois v Cadigan, 20-1961. It upholds the ballot access relief granted by a U.S. District Court in April 2020. It says, “The Board devotes not a word to addressing the harm this would cause to candidates and parties who have relied on the agreed preliminary injunction order.”

The order does not identify which judges handled the matter. Thanks to Mark Brown and Sam Cahnman for this news.

Vermont Posts General Election Candidate List; Will Have 22 Presidential Candidates on Ballot

Posted on by August 20, 2020
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The Vermont Secretary of State has posted the November 2020 candidate list. See it here. Click on “preliminary draft candidate listing for November 3.” For president, there will be 22 candidates on the ballot. The parties with presidential nominees are Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, Green, Constitution, Alliance, American Solidarity, Socialism & Liberation, Socialist Workers, Prohibition, Bread & Roses, and Approval Voting.

In addition, these independents qualified: Mark Charles, Richard Duncan, Gary Swing, Kyle Kopitke, Christopher LaFontaine, Keith McCormick, H. Brooke Paige, Brock Pierce, Zachary Scalf, and Kanye West.