November 2018 Ballot Access News Print Edition

Posted on by December 3, 2018
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Ballot Access News
November 1, 2018 – Volume 34, Number 6

This issue was printed on white paper.

Table of Contents

  1. MAJOR PARTY SHARE OF REGISTRATION DECLINES AGAIN
  2. UTAH REPUBLICANS ASK HIGH COURT TO RULE ON PARTY RIGHTS
  3. PENNSYLVANIA FUSION
  4. MONTANA GREEN PARTY LAWSUIT
  5. LAWSUIT NEWS
  6. DEMOCRATS ON FOR MOST LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS SINCE 1992
  7. LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT, NOVEMBER 2018
  8. FALL 2018 VOTER REGISTRATION TOTALS
  9. VOTE TESTS FOR POLITICAL PARTY STATUS IN 2018
  10. ALASKA GOVERNOR WITHDRAWS EVEN THOUGH HE IS ON THE BALLOT
  11. CONNECTICUT LIBERTARIANS WIN $37,000 SETTLEMENT
  12. CUMULATIVE VOTING WINS
  13. NEW YORK STATE SENATE RACE
  14. ERRATA
  15. SUBSCRIBING TO BAN WITH PAYPAL

Eleventh Circuit Wants to Know if Any Plaintiffs in Ex-Felon Voting Rights Case are Still Injured

Posted on by December 3, 2018
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On November 6, the voters of Florida passed an initiative, restoring voting rights to most ex-felons, but not all of them. Under the initiative, certain crimes still prevent ex-felons from registering, such as murder and violent sex crimes. On November 20, the Eleventh Circuit asked both sides in the pending lawsuit Hand v Scott whether any plaintiffs still have any voting rights problem.

The lawsuit challenges the old law and the arbitrary rules concerning ex-felons asking the Governor to restore their voting rights. Both sides must respond by December 5, Wednesday.

Analysis of California Voters who Cast Blank Ballots for Races with Just Two Democrats

Posted on by December 2, 2018
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Ben Christopher has this story in Calmatters about voters who cast blank ballots in races with no choices except for two Democrats. Generally, 16% of the voters cast blank ballots in such races.

The California official election returns still haven’t been released. When they are released, there will be better data for this topic.

Favorable Ruling from Utah Elections Office Keeps Green Party on the Ballot

Posted on by December 2, 2018
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The Utah State Elections office has ruled that when a party submits a party petition, it is automatically on for the next two elections, not just one election. This means that the Green Party is still ballot-qualified in Utah.

The law is quite clear that when a party meets the vote test, it gets the next two elections. But it had not been clear as to whether a petition also yields the next two elections. The Green Party did not do the party petition in Utah in 2016, but it did it during 2017, for the 2018 election. At the 2018 election, it did not poll enough votes to meet the 2% vote test. But the new ruling allows it to also be on for 2020. It is much easier for parties to meet the vote test in presidential years, because all the statewide state offices are up in presidential years. Thanks to Charles Sherrouse for this news.

Tennessee Republican Party Favors Registration by Party on Voter Registration Forms

Posted on by December 2, 2018
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On December 1, the Tennessee State Executive Committee passed a resolution in favor of changing voter registration forms, to ask voters to choose a party. This would enable parties that have primaries to close them. See this story.

The party also endorsed raising the number of signatures for independent candidates. Currently all candidates need 25 signatures, except presidential independents need 275. The resolution recommends 1,000 for statewide office; 500 for U.S. House; 200 for State Senate; and 75 for State House. County offices would still need 25.