Number of Candidates on Ballot for U.S. House in 2016 is Little Changed from 2014

The number of choices printed on November ballots for U.S. House of Representatives in 2016 is very similar to the number of such candidates on the ballot in November 2014.

Democrats are on the ballot in 406 districts this year, and were on in 400 districts in November 2014.
Republicans are on in 394 this year, and were on in 395 in 2014.
Libertarians are on in 122 districts, both this year and in 2014.
Greens are on in 54 districts this year, and were on in 43 in 2014.
Constitution Party members are on in 15 districts this year, and 13 in 2014.
Reformers are on in 5 districts this year, and 4 in 2014.
Other parties are on in 17 districts this year and 33 districts in 2014.
There are 72 independent candidates in 2016, and there were 82 in 2014.

There are still a few unresolved disputes on ballot access for candidates for U.S. House, and the Texas data is incomplete for independents, so these figures could change slightly.

No candidate is counted twice. Some candidates are the nominees of more than a single party, but they are counted only for the party of which they are a member. For purposes of this compilation, Delegate from the District of Columbia is counted, so there are 436 seats.

Springfield, Illinois Daily Newspaper Editorial Criticizes Illinois Ballot Access Law

The State Journal-Register, daily newspaper for Springfield, in this editorial criticizes the Illinois election law that forces independent candidates for U.S. House to submit a petition of 5% of the last vote cast. That makes three major newspapers in the Illinois 13th U.S. House district that have criticized the law. The others are from Champaign and Bloomington.

Maine Legislature Makes Write-in Filing Deadline More Restrictive

On March 23, 2016, the Maine legislature passed LD 1484. Among other election law changes, it made the deadline for filing as a declared write-in earlier, from 45 days before the election, to 60 days before the election. The law went into effect on April 10, 2016. Therefore, the July 1 2016 printed Ballot Access News, which had write-in filing deadlines, is in error. The newsletter says the Maine write-in deadline is September 24, but actually it is September 9. Thanks to Thomas MacMillan for this news.

It is not rational for states to set such early deadlines for filing as a write-in candidate. One of the reasons we have write-in space on ballots is to take account of unexpected events that occur in the weeks before election day.

Washington Post Story on Jill Stein’s Receipt of $456,035 in Primary Season Matching Funds This Year

The Washington Post has this article about the primary season matching funds that Jill Stein has received this year. She has received $456,035. The article does not mention that no taxpayer is forced to pay into the public funding program. Instead, the form 1040 asks taxpayers if they wish to have $5 go to the fund. Most taxpayers say “no.”