New Nevada Voter Registration Data

The latest Nevada voter registration data is here. The Secretary of State’s web page does not include the Green Party, but the ofice has said that there are now 4,306 registered Greens. The percentages are: Democratic 39.44%; Republican 33.37%; Independent American (Constitution) 4.32%; Libertarian .91%; Green .29%; independent and miscellaneous 21.66%.

In January 2016 the percentages had been: Democratic 39.15%; Republican 35.16%; Independent American 4.65%; Libertarian .81%; Green .19%; independent and miscellaneous 20.05%.

Vermont Progressive Party Wins Lieutenant Governorship

For the first time, a member of the Vermont Progressive Party has been elected to a statewide office. Party activist David Zuckerman won the Lieutenant Governor’s race. Here are the election returns. Vermont permits fusion, and the Democratic Party had also nominated him. In Vermont, when a candidate has the nomination of two parties, the ballot lists the party that the candidate is a member of first, followed by the name of the other party that also nominated him or her. Zuckerman was on the ballot as “Progressive, Democrat.”

To see the Lieutenant Governor returns, click the triangle in the box that says “Governor”. That will advance the page to the Lieutenant Governor race.

Arizona Republican Party’s Attempt to Win a U.S. House Seat by Bolstering the Green Nominee Fails to Work

On November 8, the vote in Arizona’s U.S. House race, district one, was: Democrat Tom O’Halleran 111,768; Republican Paul Babeu 94,299; Green Party nominee Ray Parrish 12,480. In this race, which had no incumbent, Republicans spent money promoting the Green Party nominee, without consulting with him. The Republican-funded literature for Parrish said that the Democrat is too conservative.

This tactic didn’t work, because the Democratic margin in this district was not only substantial, it greatly exceeded the margin in the same district in 2014. Democrats also won this seat in 2014, but the margin was Democratic 97,391; Republican 87,723.

Now is the Time to Talk to State Legislators About Improving Election Laws

In the two year cycle between congressional elections, November of even-numbered years is the prime month for talking to state legislators about making improvements to election laws, and any laws that need improving. Now is the time for individuals to hope to be able to communicate with legislators. They are not in session. They are busy deciding which bills to introduce early in 2017. In some states there are strict deadlines, and bills must be introduced early in 2017.

In many states, legislators are limited and may only introduce a small number of bills. If individuals wait, then they ask for bills, they are told “Sorry; I already introduced my quota.”

Over half the states have eased the law on how a party remains on the ballot, since 1976. That is why the median vote test in 1976 was 5%, and now it is only 2%.