Oral Argument Held in California Case over Discriminatory Policy on Ballot Labels

Posted on by March 14, 2016
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On Monday, March 14, U.S. District Court Andre Birotte, Jr., held oral arguments in Soltysik v Padilla, 2:15cv-7916. The issue is the constitutionality of California’s ballot labels in elections for Congress and state office. Members of qualified parties have the label “Party preference: (name of the party they are registered in).” But members of unqualified parties have the label “Party preference: none.” The plaintiffs are registered in the Socialist Party, which is not ballot-qualified in California.

It is difficult to predict the outcome. However, the judge seemed very interested in the case and very well-versed in the arguments on both sides. California does not have party nominees (except for President). The only other state with a similar system is Washington, where every candidate can choose any ballot label that is below 16 characters and is not obscene.

A decision is expected within two weeks.

Six Major Republican Candidates who Dropped Out of 2016 Presidential Race Haven’t Endorsed Anyone

Posted on by March 13, 2016
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Six of the recognized Republican presidential candidates who had been running for president, but who have dropped out, still have not endorsed any other Republican for the nomination. They are Jeb Bush, Jim Gilmore, Lindsey Graham, Mike Huckabee, Rand Paul, and Scott Walker.

Graham had endorsed Bush after Graham dropped out, but then Bush dropped out, and Graham hasn’t made a new endorsement, although he has hinted he might endorse Ted Cruz.

Here are the endorsements made by the other ex-candidates: Donald Trump has been endorsed by Ben Carson and Chris Christie; Ted Cruz has been endorsed by Carly Fiorina and Rick Perry; Marco Rubio has been endorsed by Bobby Jindal, George Pataki, and Rick Santorum. No ex-candidate has endorsed John Kasich.

Arkansas Independent Candidate Files Reply Brief in 8th Circuit, in Lawsuit Challenging March 1 Petition Deadline

Posted on by March 12, 2016
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On March 8, Mark Moore filed this reply brief in Moore v Martin, 15-3558. The issue is the Arkansas March 1 petition deadline for non-presidential independent candidates that was in effect in 2014 (when this case was filed) and which will be in effect in 2018, unless this lawsuit wins.

Moore was an independent candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 2014. For 2016, the non-presidential independent candidate deadline was even earlier in Arkansas; it was in November of the year before the election. This lawsuit does not relate to that 2016 deadline.

Oregon Secretary of State Announces Names on Presidential Primary Ballots

Posted on by March 12, 2016
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The Oregon Secretary of State has placed six Republicans and two Democrats on presidential primary ballots. She still hasn’t decided whether any names will be printed on the Independent Party’s presidential primary ballot. If no names are printed on the Independent Party presidential primary ballot, write-ins will be tallied.

The Republican ballot will list Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, John Kasich, Marco Rubio, and Donald Trump. The Democratic ballot will list Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. Here is a link to the Secretary of State’s web page, listing candidates for presidential primary ballots.

The law says candidates are put on the ballot automatically if they are discussed in the news media. The Independent Party submitted a list of candidates to the Secretary of State for inclusion on the Independent Party ballot. The Attorney General will decide whether to include any names. Generally, press coverage of the presidential candidates whom the Independent Party listed don’t say that any of those candidates is seeking the nomination of the Independent Party. The primary is May 17.

Independent Voters Network Carries My Article, Asking for a Deeper Discussion of Why Some Voters Say They are Conscientiously Opposed to Participating in a Political Party

Posted on by March 12, 2016
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The Independent Voters Network has kindly published an article I wrote recently. My article asks for a deeper discussion of why voters who are conscientiously opposed to joining a political party have those convictions. Read it here.