In 2016 and 2018, Texas required 47,086 signatures for a new party, or for a non-presidential statewide independent. But for 2020 and 2022, the requirement will be more than 83,075 signatures. The formula is 1% of the gubernatorial vote, and although the final gubernatorial vote for 2018 is not known, on election night, the number of votes cast would translate into 83,075.
The 2020 independent presidential petition will be 89,693 signatures, 1% of the 2016 presidential vote.
Election Central 2020 has this useful chart showing 2020 presidential primary dates, in chronological order.
Of course, these dates will change in many states, due to legislation in 2019.
On November 9, Kristin Olsen, a vice-chair of the California Republican Party, and the leader of her party in the Assembly prior to the 2016 election, said in a public forum, “California Republicans aren’t a viable second party.” See this story.
UPDATE: on November 15, she published an article in Cal Matters, which the San Francisco Chronicle also carried. It can be read here, and it says, “It may be time for a third party.”
On November 13, U.S. District Court Judge Leigh May issued an injunction, allowing provisional ballots to be counted even though the voter omitted the year of birth. The order applies to Gwinnett County, which had been rejecting such ballots. Martin v Crittenden, n.d., 1:18cv-4776.
On November 12, U.S. District Court Judge Amy Totenberg issued an injunction, allowing more time for provisional voters to return to the elections office and validate their provisional ballots by showing I.D. Common Cause of Georgia v Kemp, 1:18cv-5102. This case had not been filed until November 5. Thanks to Rick Hasen for news about both of these decisions.
On November 13, Republican Congressman Bruce Poliquin and some voters in his district filed a federal lawsuit to enjoin the use of ranked choice voting in last week’s election. Baber v Dunlap, 1:18cv-465. The case is assigned to Judge Lance E. Walker, a Trump appointee. Here is the 25-page complaint.
The first choice vote count shows that Poliquin has 2,000 more votes than his Democratic opponent, Jared Golden. However, 8% of the voters used their first choice votes to support one of the two independent candidates in the race. When the ranked choice process counts the next round, virtually everyone expects Golden will win. Golden has already asked to intervene in the case. Thanks to Political Wire for this news.
