Newspaper Story About the Reform Party Gubernatorial Ticket in Florida

Posted on by September 3, 2018
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The Citrus County Chronicle has this story about the 2018 Reform Party ticket for Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Florida, with most of the content about Nancy Argenziano, the Lieutenant Governor candidate.

The Reform Party ticket will appear third on the ballot, behind the Republican and Demoratic nominees, but ahead of the four independent candidates for Governor-Lieutenant Governor.

The only other third party nominees on the ballot in Florida this year for federal and state office are three Libertarians running for the legislature, and one Green Party candidate for the legislature.

Now is the Time for Contacting State Legislators About 2019 Bills

Posted on by September 3, 2018
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The general election campaign season starts in earnest after Labor Day. For the next two months, state legislators who are running for re-election should be found speaking in public, or holding public meetings. This is the prime time for anyone to talk to a state legislator about bills in the 2019 sessions of legislatures. Many state legislatures have severe limits on how many bills any one legislator may introduce. Also many state legislatures have strick time limits. Indiana, for example, requires all new bills to be introduced December of the year before the session starts.

The ballot access laws have improved considerably in the last few years, and most of that progress has come from persuading state legislatures to ease the laws. But lobbying is urgently needed in Alabama, Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming.

Recount for Washington State Primary, U.S. House District, Confirms Original Results

Posted on by September 2, 2018
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The recount in Washington state’s August primary for the U.S. House 2nd district seat is finished, and the results match the original results. See this story. Libertarian Brian Luke placed second, and will be on the November ballot against the incumbent Democrat. This is the first time in any top-two election in which a minor party member has advanced to the general election, even though both major parties also had a candidate on the ballot in the primary.

Michigan Initiative for No-Excuse Absentee Voting and Straight-Ticket Device Has Enough Valid Signatures

Posted on by September 2, 2018
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On August 31, the Michigan Secretary of State said that the “Promote the Vote” initiative has enough valid signatures to be on the ballot. It authorizes no-excuse voting. Unfortunately, it also provides for a straight-ticket device. It is a proposed constitutional amendment, so if the voters pass it, the legislature can’t repeal any part of it.

The backers of the initiative had sued to get the initiative on the ballot, after a preliminary check of the signatures showed that the initiative did not have enough valid signatures. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, challenged the way Michigan uses random sampling to check statewide initiatives. But it is likely that the lawsuit will now be dismissed, or considered moot. The lawsuit is Promote the Vote v Johnson, e.d., 2:18cv-12692.

Lawsuit Filed to Challenge Ohio Law that Lets Election Officials Reject Initiatives Based on Content of the Initiative

Posted on by September 2, 2018
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On August 28, a federal lawsuit was filed against an Ohio law that lets election officials decide for themselves whether to put an initiative on the ballot. Ohio law lets election administrators reject initiatives, even if they have enough valid signatures, based on the officials’ belief that the proposed initiative would or would not be constitutional.

This particular lawsuit was filed on behalf of the proponents of a local initiative to reduce penalties for possession of marijuana. Schmitt v Husted, s.d., 2:18cv-966. The initiative was rejected by the Portage County Election Board even though it had enough valid signatures, because the Board did not feel the subject matter is proper for an initiative. A hearing will be held September 17, and the judge promised a decision quickly, in time for the election. Here is the Complaint.