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

Posted on by November 9, 2016
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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%.

For First Time, a Libertarian Congressional Nominee Outpolls a Major Party Nominee

Posted on by November 9, 2016
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In the Alaska U.S. Senate race, Libertarian Party nominee Joe Miller placed second, with 29.6% of the vote. The Democratic nominee, Ray Metcalfe, polled 11.1%. This is the first time any Libertarian nominee for either house of Congress has ever outpolled a major party nominee. Some might disparage Miller’s showing by saying he isn’t a “real” Libertarian, but the party did choose to nominate him. Miller had been the Republican nominee in 2010 for the same seat.

Working Class Party, and Libertarian Party, Poll Enough Votes for a Primary in Michigan in 2018

Posted on by November 9, 2016
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Michigan required parties to poll at least 154,040 votes for a statewide race this year, in order to qualify for a primary in 2018. Both the Working Class Party and the Libertarian Party had some statewide candidates who exceeded this total. The Working Class Party only had one statewide candidate, and she polled 224,106 votes for State Board of Education.

Libertarian statewide candidates who exceeded that number include Gary Johnson for President, and two Libertarian nominees for statewide educational posts.

Even without qualifying for a primary, the two parties would have been on the 2018 ballot in any case, but if their votes had been smaller, they would have nominated by convention.

No presidential primary will be provided for either party in 2020, even if they are still entitled to a primary for other office in 2020. Michigan presidential primaries are only given to parties that polled 5% of the nationwide presidential vote. The Reform Party in 2000 is the only Michigan party that ever had a presidential primary. That primary was won by Donald Trump, who was seeking the Reform Party nomination early in 2000.

Libertarian Legislator in Nevada Defeated for Re-Election

Posted on by November 9, 2016
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One of the Libertarian Party’s four state legislators, John Moore, was running for re-election this week. He was defeated. He received 6.8% of the vote; his Democratic opponent Jason Frierson was elected with 56.1%; and his Republican opponent, Norm Ross, received 37.1%.

Moore had never been elected as a Libertarian. He had won in 2014 as the Republican nominee, but then had changed parties.