Texas State Appeals Court Expedites Filing Fee Case

Posted on by December 23, 2019
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On December 20, the Texas State Court of Appeals, 14th district, issued an order in Hughs v Dikeman, 14-19-969-cv. This is the case over the new law that requires candidates seeking the nomination of a party that nominates by convention to pay a filing fee, when the individual notifies the party that he or she is seeking a nomination. The two-page order stays the trial court order that enjoined the fees. It also requires that the state file a brief by January 6, 2020; and that the Libertarian Party plaintiffs file their brief by January 10, 2020.

The three judges on the case in the Court of Appeals are Jerry Zimmerer, Charles Spain, and Meagan Hassan. All are Democrats, as is the trial court judge.

Maine Republican Presidential Primary Ballot Will Only List President Donald Trump

Posted on by December 23, 2019
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The Maine Republican presidential primary ballot will only list President Donald Trump. All candidates needed 2,000 signatures of registered Republicans. No one else submitted a petition, not even William Weld. This shows how difficult the Maine petition requirement is for primary ballot access for statewide office.

New York Statewide Independent Petition is Now 45,000 Signatures Instead of 15,000

Posted on by December 23, 2019
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The New York state Commission on Public Funding raised the number of signatures for a statewide independent, or for the nominee of an unqualified party, from 15,000 signatures to 45,000 signatures. Under the law that authorized the Commission to re-write election laws, the New York legislature had until December 22 to veto the work of the Commission. The legislature did not act. Therefore, the new petition requirement is now in effect.

A state court in Niagara County is currently considering whether the legislature exceeded its authority when it authorized the Commission to re-write election laws. A decision is expected any day now. That case is actually two cases, one filed by the Working Families Party and the other by the Conservative Party. They are being considered together.

The Commission also raised the vote test for the definition of qualified party from 50,000 votes for Governor, to the greater of 130,000 votes or 2% of the total vote cast, in each presidential and gubernatorial election. But that is not in effect until November 2020.