March 27, Tuesday, is the first day for which it is legal for Illinois minor party and independent candidate petitions to circulate. As far as is known, only the Libertarian Party will attempt to petition. Illinois is one of only eight states in which the only qualified parties (for statewide office) are the Republican and Democratic Parties. The others are Alabama, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington.
The Albuquerque Journal has this op-ed by JoHanna Cox, Republican candidate for New Mexico Secretary of State. The piece criticizes the incumbent Secretary of State, a Democrat, for saying she intends to restore the straight-ticket device even though there is no statutory authorization for it. Thanks to Gene Berkman for the link.
On March 22, California State Senator Ben Allen introduced SCA 21. It says that write-in candidates for a partisan office in the primary cannot advance to the general election, even if they place second, unless they receive at least 65 write-ins (if running for statewide office) or 40 write-ins (if running for U.S. House or legislature).
Currently, anyone who comes in second for a partisan office in the primary advances to November, even if the write-in total is only one vote. If the legislature approves this idea, it would then go on the ballot for a vote of the voters, because it is a constitutional amendment, and it amends the part of the State Constitution that set up the top-two system. Thanks to Dave Kadlecek for this news.
California lets candidates for congress and state partisan office pay to have statements in pamphlets that are mailed by the government to all registered voters. Statewide candidate statements go in the Voters Pamphlet, which is prepared by the Secretary of State. District candidate statements go in the sample ballot pamphlet, which is mailed out by county election officials.
State Senator Ben Allen has introduced SB 935, which requires the Secretary of State to set a maximum amount that can be charged for these statements. It is expected that this would result in less expensive charges. Currently county election offices set the rates for district candidates.
The newly-constituted North Carolina State Board of Elections has put recognition of the Green Party on its agenda for its March 27 meeting.
