New Hampshire Representative Ellen Read (D-Newmarket) has introduced HB 1540 into the upcoming 2018 legislative session. See this story. The bill has co-sponsors from more than one party. Thanks to Electionline for the link.
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Ballot Access News
November 1, 2017 – Volume 33, Number 6
| This issue was printed on white paper. |
Table of Contents
- NORTH CAROLINA BALLOT ACCESS BILL ENACTED
- CALIFORNIA MARCH PRIMARY BILL
- U.S. DISTRICT COURT UPHOLDS CALIFORNIA INDEPENDENT PRESIDENTIAL PETITION
- CALIFORNIA EASES BALLOT ACCESS FOR CONGRESS AND STATE OFFICE
- U.S. SUPREME COURT WON’T HEAR ARKANSAS BALLOT ACCESS APPEAL
- MAINE LEGISLATURE ACTS AGAINST RANKED CHOICE VOTING
- HIGH COURT MAY HEAR MINNESOTA POLITICAL CLOTHES CASE
- CALIFORNIA WON’T REQUIRE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES TO REVEAL INCOME TAX
- ALASKA DEMOCRATS WIN LAWSUIT
- WHEN DID A MINOR PARTY LAST RUN A FULL SLATE FOR U.S. HOUSE?
- LAST TIME EACH STATE VOLUNTARILY IMPROVED BALLOT ACCESS FOR MINOR PARTIES OR INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES
- MAINE LEGISLATOR BECOMES INDEPENDENT
- LOUISIANA SPECIAL ELECTION FOR TREASURER
- ELECTION RETURNS BOOKS
- BERNIE SANDERS WILL RUN FOR RE-ELECTION IN 2018 AS INDEPENDENT
- GREEN PARTY HISTORY 2002-2004 AVAILABLE
- CALIFORNIA TOP-TWO INITIATIVE
- SUBSCRIBING TO BAN WITH PAYPAL
Virginia held a legislative election on November 7, 2017. It appears the new House of Delegates includes 51 Republicans and 49 Democrats. In the 94th district, the tally was: Republican David Yancey 11,601; Democrat Shelly Simonds 11,591; Libertarian Michael Bartley 675.
If Democrats had prevailed in the 94th district, the House of Delegates would have been organized on a bi-partisan sharing agreement. Unlike the State Senate, where the Lieutenant Governor (a Democrat) could break any tie, there is no easy mechanism for the House to avoid a tie. In similar cases in other states, the lower chamber ends up with an agreement for the two major parties to share power equally, sometimes with co-speakers. Thanks to Thomas Jones for this news.
The Los Angeles Times has this on-line article about Paul Merritt, an independent candidate for U.S. Senate in California in 2016. California publishes a Voters Pamphlet that is mailed to every registered voter. Candidates for U.S. Congress are permitted to write a campaign statement that is published in the pamphlet, although the candidate must pay for this service. In 2016 Paul Merritt paid for a statement which said in the heading that he is an independent candidate.
Secretary of State Alex Padilla censored out those words, and didn’t even tell Merritt what he had done. Merritt has charged that his free speech was violated, and also his due process was also violated. The lawsuit is still in U.S. District Court. The Los Angeles Times story is the first publicity his lawsuit has had.
Santa Fe, New Mexico, holds non-partisan elections for city office in March 2018. On November 29, a state district court ruled that Santa Fe must use ranked choice voting. See this story. The city election law itself has mandated use of ranked choice voting for some years, but the city has refused to implement it. Thanks to Rob Richie for this news.