Florida Politics Considers Impact of Reform Party Gubernatorial Nominee Darcy Richardson on Outcome

Posted on by November 15, 2018
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Florida Politics has this interesting article about the Reform Party nominee for Governor of Florida, Darcy Richardson. One of the points mentioned in the story is that most Florida counties abbreviate the names of political parties, instead of including the whole party name. The Reform Party in most counties was “Ref.”, which might look like “Rep.” to voters that are either careless or have poor eyesight. Thanks to Peter Gemma for the link.

The Florida U.S. Senate race had no candidates on the ballot other than the Republican and Democratic nominees. But the Florida Governor’s race had the Reform Party nominee and three independent candidates.

U.S. District Court Sets Hearing Date for Montana Green Party Ballot Access Case

Posted on by November 14, 2018
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A U.S. District Court in Montana will hear Montana Green Party v Stapleton, 6:18cv-87, on January 8, Tuesday. This is the ballot access case that challenges the March 15 petition deadline for newly-qualifying parties, and the unequal distribution requirement for the petition. The law requires signatures in each of 34 state house districts, which are all presumed to have equal populations. The law violates “one person, one vote” because in some districts as many as 150 signatures are required, yet in others, as few as 55 signatures. Thus voters in the latter counties have more power than voters in the former type of districts. No other state has ever had such a peculiar distribution requirement for any type of statewide petition.

Ohio Secretary of State Won’t Keep Libertarian Party On Ballot

Posted on by November 14, 2018
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According to this story, the Ohio Secretary of State has informally said that the Ohio Libertarian Party is no longer qualified. The story quotes a spokesperson for the Secretary of State’s office, who admits the party does have one sentence of the law on its side. But he says other parts of the law are in conflict. The office has not made a formal declaration yet. Thanks to Jim Riley for the link.

Four New Mexico Voters Ask State Supreme Court to Declare that State Constitution Prohibits Spending Tax Dollars on Partisan Primaries

Posted on by November 14, 2018
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On November 13, four New Mexico voters filed a lawsuit with the State Supreme Court, asking that the Court accept their case and declare that the New Mexico Constitution does not permit the government to spend taxpayer dollars on administering primaries for political parties. Chavez v Toulouse Oliver, S-1-SC-37371.

Two of the voters are independents. One is a Democrat and one is a Republican. The New Mexico Constitution says, “Art. IX, sec. 14. Neither the state nor any county, school district, or municiplity, except as otherwise provided in this constitution, shall directly or indirectly lend or pledge its credit or make any donation to or in aid of any person, association, or public or private corporation.” Here is the brief. Thanks to Harry Kresky for this news.

New Mexico was one of the last states to provide for primaries. Before 1938, all parties in New Mexico nominated by convention.