U.S. Supreme Court Hears Alabama Redistricting Case Next Week

Posted on by November 8, 2014
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On Wednesday, November 12, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear Alabama Legislative Black Caucus v State, 13-895. Here is a New York Times story explaining the issue in the case.

The Alabama Legislative Black Caucus filed the lawsuit to overturn the 2011 legislative districting plan. They argue that the plan packs as many black voters as possible into a limited number of districts, so that the overall influence of black voters is reduced. The 3-judge U.S. District Court had upheld the plan by a 2-1 vote.

Libertarian Party Candidates for Partisan Statewide Office Carried Some Counties in Three States, in Races with no Democrat

Posted on by November 8, 2014
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On November 4, Libertarian nominees for statewide partisan office carried counties in three states. In all cases, there was no Democrat in the race.

In South Dakota, the Libertarian nominee for School Commissioner, John English, carried Buffalo, Shannon, and Todd Counties. Also in South Dakota, Chad Haber, the Libertarian for Attorney General, carried Shannon and Todd Counties. Also, Kurt Evans, Libertarian nominee for Auditor, carried Shannon and Todd Counties.

In Missouri, Sean O’Toole, Libertarian nominee for Auditor, carried Kansas City. There were three candidates in the race, a Republican, a Constitution Party nominee, and O’Toole. Technically Kansas City isn’t a separate county, but for over a century Missouri election officials have treated it as a separate county when they prepare official election returns.

In Georgia, John Monds, Libertarian nominee for Public Service Commissioner, carried DeKalb, Hancock, and Fayette Counties. DeKalb is the third most populous county in the state. Thanks to Michael for this news.

Write-in Candidate for Sheriff in Montana Loses Because Election Officials Won’t Count Votes with only His Surname

Posted on by November 8, 2014
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Powell County, Montana, held an election for Sheriff on November 4. The only name on the ballot was the incumbent, but a write-in candidate, Gavin Roselles, had a strong campaign. The official returns show the write-in candidate losing by a vote of 994 to 904. However, 138 write-in votes were disallowed, mostly because the voter only wrote in the surname “Roselles” instead of “G. Roselles” or “Gavin Roselles.” Also some write-ins were disallowed because the voter didn’t fill in the oval next to the name that had just been written in. See this story. Thanks to Mike Fellows for the link.

Constitution Party is Ballot-Qualified in One Alabama County

Posted on by November 8, 2014
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On November 4, the Constitution Party nominee for Coroner of Marshall County, Alabama, received 35% of the vote, so the Constitution Party is now ballot-qualified for four years in that county, for the purpose of running future candidates for partisan county office.

Marshall County is in northeast Alabama and has a population of 93,000.

Alabama is one of the few states in which a party can enjoy qualified status in a county, even if that party is not qualified statewide. Other states in which this is possible are Arizona, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Oregon, Pennsylvania (in a sense), Tennessee, and Texas.

Candidate Who Felt He Had No Chance to Win Because of Lack of Funds, who Therefore Tried to Withdraw, Wins Election

Posted on by November 8, 2014
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Matt Taylor filed to run for the non-partisan post of member of the Yolo County (California) Board of Education. He then learned that his opponent, the incumbent, was raising a great deal of money, so he assumed he couldn’t win and tried to withdraw. But California doesn’t permit candidates to withdraw. Taylor then ceased all campaign activity, but he won anyway. See this story. Thanks to Doug McNeil for the link.