Ballot Access News
July 1, 2018 – Volume 34, Number 2

1. MAINE VOTERS AGAIN PASS RANKED CHOICE VOTING
2. NEBRASKA WIN
3. INDEPENDENT VOTER PROJECT NOW FAVORS CHANGING CALIFORNIA TOP-TWO LAW
4. SUPREME COURT ON GERRYMANDERING
5. CALIFORNIA AGAIN MISINFORMS COURT ABOUT BALLOT ACCESS IN OTHER STATES
6. INDEPENDENT PRESIDENTIAL ACCESS AS A PERCENTAGE OF REGISTRATION
7. NORTH CAROLINA MOVES PRIMARY FROM MAY TO MARCH
8. CALIFORNIA PRIMARY
9. MONTANA GREENS STILL WAITING
10. SOUTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN CLOSED PRIMARY IDEA PASSES
11. SUPREME COURT NEWS
12. MAINE REPUBLICANS LOSE LAWSUIT
13. ALASKA LEGISLATOR LEAVES REPUBLICAN PARTY
14. DEMOCRATIC PARTY SETS 2020 NATIONAL CONVENTION DATES
15. CALIFORNIA GREEN PARTY JUDGE
16. CALIFORNIA LIBERTARIAN QUALIFIES FOR RUN-OFF FOR COUNTY SUPERVISOR
17. LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO, WILL USE RANKED CHOICE VOTING
18. OHIO SECRETARY OF STATE SAYS GREEN PARTY HAS 7,353 MEMBERS
19. SUBSCRIBING TO BAN WITH PAYPAL

The Massachusetts legislature only has two days remaining for its active 2017-2018 session. See this story. The bill for automatic voter registration is in conference committee. Because it has passed in both houses (although in differing versions) it seems likely to pass.

On July 27, the Pennsylvania Libertarian Party filed its statewide petition, which contains nominees for U.S. Senate, Governor, and Lieutenant Governor. The state required 5,000 valid signatures; the Libertarians submitted 11,000.

By the August 1 deadline, it is expected that statewide petitions from the Green and Constitution Parties will also be submitted. This year will be the first since 2002 than any statewide minor party or independent candidates were on the ballot in a gubernatorial year. However, in 2017, there was a Green on the statewide ballot for a partisan judicial race.