Oklahoma State Senator Kyle D. Loveless (R-Oklahoma City) has introduced SB 896. It changes the definition of “political party” from a group that polled at least 10% for the office at the top of the ballot in the last election (President or Governor) to 2.5% of the same base. Thanks to E. Zachary Knight for this news.
This Virginia newspaper story gives more details about the lawsuit filed January 6 against the State Board of Elections, over the new rule that a voter choosing a Republican presidential primary ballot must sign in saying “I am a Republican.” The case is Parson v Alcorn, e.d., 3:16cv-13. Here is the Complaint. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link. The case is assigned to U.S. District Court Judge M. Hannah Lauck, an Obama appointee.
On January 6, the Maine Green Party (which is called the Green Independent Party) notified the Secretary of State that independent voters may vote in its 2016 primary in June, without having to join the party at the polls on primary day. See this story. This is the first time any party with its own primary has taken this step.
The Illinois filing deadline for presidential primary petitions was January 6. Six Democrats filed, and eleven Republicans filed. No Illinois Republican presidential primary has ever had more than nine candidates.
The Democrats are: Hillary Clinton, Larry Cohen, Rocky De La Fuente, Martin O’Malley, Bernie Sanders, and Willie Wilson.
The Republicans are: Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Chris Christie, Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, Mike Huckabee, John Kasich, Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, Rick Santorum, and Donald Trump.
By the end of January 6, someone had already challenged the petition for Ted Cruz. Because the objector could not have had enough time to scrutinize the petition, chances are the objection relates to whether Cruz meets the qualifications to be President.
The deadline for other challenges is January 13.
Politico has this story about Gary Johnson’s January 6 announcement that he will seek the Libertarian presidential nomination. UPDATE: this Washington Post story is more informative.
