Another Wyoming Bill to Limit Voters from Changing Parties

Posted on by January 15, 2019
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Wyoming Representative Jim Blackburn (R-Cheyenne) has introduced HB 106, which would affect the timing of when voters can change parties. Currently voters can change their party registration as late as primary day itself. The bill would prevent voters from changing their registration after May 1 of election years.

HB 106 is somewhat similar to SF 32, which is also pending in this year’s legislative session.

These bills are motivated by a belief among many Republican leaders that Democrats, and independents who lean Democratic, changed to being registered Republicans last year in order to influence the Republican gubernatorial primary.

Utah Bill to Alter Replacement of Appointed U.S. Senators

Posted on by January 15, 2019
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Utah Representative Merril Nelson (R-Grantsville) has introduced HB 89, which gives the legislature a role when the Governor appoints a U.S. Senator following a vacancy. This article explains the proposal. The article contains the interesting information that the Utah legislature was the only legislature in the U.S. to reject the 17th amendment when the nation passed that amendment in 1913. Thanks to Steve Goodale for the link.

New York Legislature Passes Bill Moving Independent Candidate Petition Deadline from August to May

Posted on by January 15, 2019
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On January 14, the New York legislature passed AB 779. It combines the congressional primary with the primary for state and local office. The new primary date will be the Fourth Tuesday in June, which in 2020 will be June 25.

Unfortunately, the bill moves the petition deadline for independent candidates, and the nominees of unqualified parties, for all office, from August to late May. The formula for the new deadline is 23 weeks before the general election. In 2020 that will be May 26.

This deadline is unconstitutional. June has been ruled too early in these cases: the Ninth Circuit invalidated Arizona’s June deadline for independent candidates in Nader v Brewer, 531 F.3d 1928 (2008). A U.S. District Court in South Dakota invalidated a June petition deadline in Nader v Hazeltine, 110 F.Supp.2d 1201 (2000). A U.S. District Court in Kansas struck down a June petition deadline in Merritt v Graves, not reported (actually Kansas conceded the deadline was too early and signed a consent decree). A U.S. District Court in Nevada enjoined a June deadline in 1992 in Fulani v Lau. The Tenth Circuit said in Populist Party v Herschler, 746 F.2d 656, that June was probably too early for a petition for a new party. The Ninth Circuit enjoined Idaho’s June deadline for a new party petition in Populist Party v Evans, unreported, in 1984.

May has been ruled too early in Massachusetts in Serrette v Connolly, state court, in 1984. May was also struck down in Pennsylvania in 1984 in Libertarian Party v Davis, not reported (actually the state conceded it was too early and signed a consent decree).

In the Assembly, the bill passed 120-24.

West Virginia Ballot Access Bill Introduced

Posted on by January 14, 2019
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West Virginia Delegate Pat McGeehan has introduced HB 2169. It eases the definition of “political party.” Current law says it is a group that polled 1% for Governor. The bill changes that to any statewide state office.

Also, the bill says a qualified party is also one that has at least 5,000 registered voters. Currently the Libertarian and Green Parties are on the ballot, because they both polled at least 1% for Governor in 2016 (West Virginia gubernatorial elections are only in presidential years). In West Virginia, the name of the Green Party is the Mountain Party. Thanks to Jeff Becker for this news.