December 2017 Ballot Access News Print Edition

Posted on by December 25, 2017
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Ballot Access News
December 1, 2017 – Volume 33, Number 7

This issue was printed on blue paper.

Table of Contents

  1. GEORGIA LIBERTARIANS FILE LAWSUIT AGAINST NATION’S MOST RESTRICTIVE BALLOT ACCESS PETITION
  2. MAINE REFERENDUM TO SAVE RANKED CHOICE VOTING
  3. NINTH CIRCUIT RULES AGAINST INDEPENDENT PARTY
  4. HIGH COURT WILL HEAR MINNESOTA POLITICAL CLOTHES CASE
  5. FLORIDA VOTERS MAY BE ABLE TO VOTE ON WHETHER TO LET INDEPENDENTS VOTE IN PRIMARIES
  6. ILLINOIS LOSS
  7. 2018 PETITIONING
  8. PETITIONER RESIDENCY LAWSUITS
  9. PETITIONS CONCERNING TOP-TWO SYSTEM
  10. CALIFORNIA WILL INFORM INDEPENDENT VOTERS OF CHOICES
  11. OREGON DEMOCRATS MAINTAIN CLOSED PRIMARIES
  12. LAST TIME SOMEONE NOT A DEMOCRATIC OR REPUBLICAN NOMINEE WAS ELECTED TO A STATE LEGISLATURE
  13. SECOND MAINE LEGISLATOR JOINS GREEN PARTY
  14. MINOR PARTIES DO POORLY IN 2017 GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS
  15. NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ELECTION
  16. UTAH U.S. HOUSE VOTE
  17. MINOR PARTY PARTISAN WINS
  18. SUBSCRIBING TO BAN WITH PAYPAL

“Disobedient” Presidential Electors File Brief in Colorado Case

Posted on by December 24, 2017
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There are still three pending federal lawsuits over whether presidential electors have the freedom to vote for anyone they wish who meets the Constitutional qualifications. The California and Minnesota lawsuits are moving slowly, but the Colorado case is very active. On December 22, the presidential electors filed this interesting 22-page brief in their lawsuit, Baca v Colorado Department of State, 1:17cv-1937. The three plaintiff-electors are Polly Baca, Robert Nemanich, and Micheal Baca.

The brief reveals that two scholarly articles were published late last year, examining the question of whether the founding fathers intended that the electors should be permitted to vote for anyone who is qualified. They are: “The Constitutional Power of the Electoral College” by Michael Stokes Paulsen; and “Is the Uniform Faithful Presidential Electors Act Unconstitutional?” by Robert J. Delahunty.

March Fong Eu Dies: Pioneer of Postcard Voter Registration Forms

Posted on by December 23, 2017
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On December 22, March Fong Eu died. She was California Secretary of State from 1974 to 1994. She pioneered the idea of letting individuals register to vote using a postcard form that did not need to be signed by anyone but the applicant. Previously, in all states, no one could register to vote without appearing in front of an election official and having the election official fill out the form. Thanks to several people for the news. Here is an obituary.

U.S. District Court Tells Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity to Share Documents with One of its Democratic Members

Posted on by December 23, 2017
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On December 22, U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled that the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity must share its important documents with all members of the Commission. Dunlap v Presidential Advisory Commission, 1:17cv-2361. Here is the 24-page opinion. Matthew Dunlap, the plaintiff, is Secretary of State of Maine and one of the commission’s few Democratic members. Thanks to Rick Hasen for this news.