Maine Greens Will Attempt to Qualify a U.S. Senate Candidate in 2020

The Maine Green Party is ballot-qualified, and must nominate all its candidates in its own primary. It is so difficult for small qualified parties in Maine to get candidates on their own party’s primary ballot, the Green Party has never been able to get anyone on the ballot for either house of congress, in years when it was qualified. However, in 2020, David Gibson will try to run for U.S. Senate. See this story.

The Maine 2020 U.S. Senate election will use ranked choice voting. The 2018 U.S. Senate race also used ranked choice voting, but it was moot, because Angus King received a majority of first-choice votes. Thanks to the commentator for this correction.

Miami-Dade County Officials Interpret Law on Ex-Felons to Permit Most of them to Register

Law enforcement officials in Miami-Dade County, Florida, have decided to interpret Florida election law to mean that ex-felons with outstanding fines, fees, and restitution, can still register to vote unless those monetary judgments are included on that individual’s sentencing document. According to this story, that will enable 90% of people in that county (who otherwise could not have registered) to register.

The same interpretation may be made by certain other populous counties. Of course, then there will be an inconsistent application of the law throughout Florida, which might violate Bush v Gore, the 2000 U.S. Supreme Court decision that said, “The right to vote is fundamental, and one source of its fundamental nature lies in the equal weight accorded to each vote.” Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.

More Moscow Street Demonstrations Expected over Exclusion of Independent Candidates from Ballot

Moscow, Russia supporters of free elections are continuing to protest the exclusion of independent candidates from the Moscow ballot, for the September 2019 election. See this story. The candidates were told they didn’t have at least 5,000 valid signatures, even though they insist they do. The July 20 demonstration had thousands of protestors, and even more are expected on July 27.

Arkansas Libertarians File Brief on Why Ballot Access Win of July 3 Should Not be Stayed

As noted earlier, on July 3, 2019, a U.S. District Court in Arkansas enjoined the new petition requirement of 26,746 signatures for a party to be on the 2020 ballot. The state then asked the U.S. District Court Judge to stay her own order.

On July 24, the Libertarian Party filed this 14-page brief, setting forth reasons why the judge should not stay her order.

July 2019 Ballot Access News Print Edition

Ballot Access News
July 1, 2019 – Volume 35, Number 2

This issue was printed on cream-colored paper.


Table of Contents

  1. WASHINGTON SUPREME COURT RULES AGAINST FREEDOM FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS
  2. NEBRASKA EASES INDEPENDENT PETITION
  3. ARIZONA MAKES PETITION DEADLINE WORSE
  4. NINTH CIRCUIT UPHOLDS ARIZONA PRIMARY BALLOT ACCESS PETITIONS
  5. U.S. DISTRICT COURT UPHOLDS ARIZONA INDEPENDENT PETITION
  6. TEXAS BILL THAT PUTS GREEN PARTY ON BALLOT IS SIGNED
  7. COLORADO GOVERNOR SIGNS BILL MAKING BALLOT ACCESS WORSE
  8. VERMONT EASES PETITION RESTRICTION
  9. SEVENTH CIRCUIT UPHOLDS ILLINOIS PRIMARY PETITION
  10. PENNSYLVANIA FUSION
  11. OTHER LAWSUIT NEWS
  12. PENNSYLVANIA MAY REPEAL STRAIGHT-TICKET DEVICE
  13. RANKED CHOICE VOTING NEWS
  14. NEW HAMPSHIRE LEGISLATURE EASES PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ACCESS
  15. CALIFORNIA PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY BILLS
  16. NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE PLAN NEWS
  17. BOOK REVIEW: MR. PRESIDENT, HOW LONG MUST WE WAIT?
  18. PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY DATE CHANGES
  19. CALIFORNIA BILL ATTACKS AMERICAN INDEPENDENT PARTY
  20. DAVID BERGLAND DIES
  21. HOWARD SCHULTZ ENDS CAMPAIGN
  22. LINCOLN CHAFEE REGISTERS LIBERTARIAN
  23. HOWIE HAWKINS DECLARES FOR THE GREEN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION
  24. 2019 LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS
  25. SUBSCRIBING TO BAN WITH PAYPAL