Ninth Circuit Grants Rehearing in Arizona Case on Voting Procedures

On January 2, the Ninth Circuit agreed to rehear en banc Democratic National Committee v Reagan, 18-15845. This is a challenge to two Arizona election laws: (1) the law that won’t let provisional ballots be cast outside one’s home precinct; (2) the law that makes it illegal for anyone except certain persons to return a voted postal ballot. The original Ninth Circuit panel had upheld both laws on September 12, 2018, by a 2-1 vote. Also the U.S. District Court had upheld them.

The state defends the law on provisional ballots by pointing out that only 3,970 such ballots were rejected in 2016 (only one-sixth of 1% of the total vote cast), but then it simultaneously defends the law by saying it is necessary so that the precincts don’t run out of blank ballots. Those two arguments are contradictory. Thanks to Rick Hasen for this news.

Libertarian Appointed to City Council of Dougherty, Oklahoma

David Greer, a registered Libertarian, has been appointed to the city council of Dougherty, Oklahoma. The post is non-partisan. The term is up in 2020. As far as is known, he is the first member of the Oklahoma Libertarian Party to hold elective public office. Thanks to Chris Powell for this news. The appointment was made in August 2018 but it only now came to my attention.

Connecticut Working Families Party Polls Lowest Share of Vote for State Office in History

The Connecticut Working Families Party polled the lowest percentage of the vote in its history for state office in 2018. It has been running a substantial number of candidates for the legislature each year starting in 2002.

For State Senate, the percentage of the vote its nominees polled in the districts in which the party had nominees has been: 2002 3.02%; 2004 2.94%; 2006 4.24%; 2008 5.88%; 2010 3.83%; 2012 3.29%; 2014 5.67%; 2016 3.69%; 2018 2.58%.

For State House: 2002 3.81%; 2004 3.46%; 2006 4.97%; 2008 6.29%; 2010 3.58%; 2012 4.31%; 2014 4.58%; 2016 5.00%; 2018 3.05%.

For Governor, the party has run only three times: 2010 2.30%; 2014 2.27%; 2018 1.27%.

In 2018, the party only had two nominees for legislature who were not Democratic nominees. Those two nominees did far better than any other WF nominees, on the WF line. They were Kennard Ray in the 4th House district, who got 9.31%; and Colin Hosten in the 140th House district, who got 10.54%. These were both good showings, given that both races had a Republican and a Democrat also running.

December 2018 Ballot Access News Print Edition

Ballot Access News
December 1, 2018 – Volume 34, Number 7

This issue was printed on violet paper.


Table of Contents

  1. MINOR PARTY AND INDEPENDENT VOTE FOR TOP OFFICES LOWEST MIDTERM SINCE 1982
  2. MAINE RANKED CHOICE VOTING MAKES HISTORY
  3. HIGH TURNOUT CAUSES TOUGHER PETITION REQUIREMENTS
  4. OHIO LIBERTARIAN PARTY STATUS
  5. MICHIGAN RESTORES STRAIGHT-TICKET
  6. FLORIDA VOTERS EASE BAN ON EX-FELONS
  7. “DISOBEDIENT” PRESIDENTIAL ELECTOR CASES MOVE AHEAD
  8. BALLOT ACCESS CASES MOVE AHEAD
  9. FARGO PASSES APPROVAL VOTING
  10. WINS AGAINST PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING
  11. WRITE-IN CHAMPION WINS CALIFORNIA PARTISAN OFFICE
  12. NEW MEXICO LAWSUIT TO FORCE PARTIES TO PAY FOR PRIMARIES
  13. 2018 VOTE FOR OFFICE AT TOP OF BALLOT
  14. 2020 PETITIONING FOR PRESIDENT
  15. INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE WINS
  16. MINOR PARTY PARTISAN WINS
  17. WYOMING LIBERTARIAN NEAR MISS
  18. MINNESOTA AND NEW YORK HAVE NEW QUALIFIED PARTIES
  19. PROHIBITION PARTY CHOOSES 2020 PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE
  20. SUBSCRIBING TO BAN WITH PAYPAL