New Louisiana Voter Registration Data

Posted on by July 1, 2017
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Here is a current tally for voter registration in Louisiana, for all parties, qualified and unqualified alike. All the qualified parties increased their share of the registration since November 2016, except for the Democratic Party.

The June 30 percentages for the qualified parties are: Democratic 44.07%; Republican 30.12%; Independent Party 1.94%; Libertarian .48%; Green .09%; Reform .04%; unqualified parties and independents 23.22%.

The percentages just before the November 2016 election were: Democratic 44.49%; Republican 29.73%; Independent Party 1.87%; Libertarian .47%; Green .08%; Reform .04%; unqualified parties and independents 23.28%. Back then, the Independent Party wasn’t ballot-qualified, but it became ballot-qualified early in 2017. The law requires 1,000 registrants plus payment of a fee of $1,000, and no one paid the fee until early in 2017.

The largest unqualified party continues to be the Conservative Party, which had 844 registrants in November 2016 and which now has 839. Thanks to Randall Hayes for the new data.

Rhode Island Legislature Passes Bill to Register All Adult Citizens Known to Exist, Unless they Decline

Posted on by July 1, 2017
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On June 30, the Rhode Island legislature passed HB 5702. It provides that every adult citizen known by the state government to exist will automatically be registered, unless that individual declines.

A similar bill had already passed the Illinois legislature, and on June 29 was forwarded to the Governor. Both the Rhode Island and Illinois Governors have said they will sign the bills. When they do, ten states will have such automatic voter registration. Thanks to the Brennan Center for the news about Rhode Island.

Delaware Bill that Moves Non-Presidential Primary from September to April Passes Committee

Posted on by June 30, 2017
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On June 29, the Delaware Senate Elections & State Affairs passed HB 89. It moves the non-presidential primary from September to April. It had already passed the House.

The version that passed the House does not move the deadline to qualify a new party. But there is a Senate amendment that would move the deadline to create a new party from August to March. Presumably the full Senate will decide which version of the bill to approve.

Delaware is in the Third Circuit, which ruled in a New Jersey case that an April deadline is too early for newly-qualifying parties. Council of Alternative Political Parties v Hooks.

North Carolina Ballot Access Bill Could Pass on August 3

Posted on by June 30, 2017
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On June 29, both houses of the North Carolina legislature appointed members to a conference committee for SB 656, the ballot access bill. Generally they all support the bill. It is likely that they can agree on a version of the bill that can pass both chambers. Although the legislature adjourned early Friday morning without the conference committee report, it will reconvene on August 3 for a single day, and it will be able to vote on bills that have been through a conference committee. Thanks to Kevin Hayes for this news.

North Carolina Senate Refuses to Concur in the House Amendments to the Ballot Access Bill

Posted on by June 29, 2017
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On June 29, the North Carolina Senate refused to concur in the House amendments to the ballot access bill, SB 656. The bill had passed both houses but the versions differ. The chief difference is that the House version has more difficult requirements for independent candidates than the Senate version. The bill will now go to a conference committee. But it is possible the legislature will adjourn before that process can be carried out.

North Carolina has two-year legislative sessions, so if no further action is taken this week, the bill is still alive and can move ahead in 2018. Unfortunately the bill’s author, Senator Andrew Brock, is resigning from the Senate soon and he won’t be there in 2018 to guide the bill. Thanks to Kevin Hayes for this news.