Ten Republican Presidential Candidates Qualify for District of Columbia Caucus

Posted on by January 4, 2016
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The District of Columbia presidential primary is the latest in the nation, June 14. That is so late, the Republican Party decided to use a caucus in D.C. instead. January 4, 2016 was the deadline for Republicans to qualify for the caucus. They either had to pay a fee of $15,000; or they had to pay $7,500 and submit 150 signatures of registered Republicans.

Three candidates collected signatures: Jeb Bush, John Kasich, and Marco Rubio. Seven other candidates paid the larger fee and skipped the petition: Ben Carson, Chris Christie, Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, Rand Paul, Rick Santorum, and Donald Trump. Thanks to Michael Beckel for the news.

Vermont Voter Files Lawsuit to Keep Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio Off Vermont Presidential Primary Ballots

Posted on by January 4, 2016
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Early in December 2015, Vermont voter H. Brooke Paige filed a lawsuit in state court against the Vermont Secretary of State, arguing that the Secretary of State has a duty to investigate the qualifications of presidential candidates before placing them on the March presidential primary ballots. Paige does not believe that Ted Cruz or Marco Rubio are eligible because of their parents’ citizenship status. See this story. The case is Paige v Condos, in Superior Court, Washington County, 780-12-15.

California Supreme Court Rules that Legislature May Put Advisory Questions on Statewide Ballot If they Concern Proposed Federal Constitutional Amendments

Posted on by January 4, 2016
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On January 4, the California Supreme Court ruled that the legislature has the power to put advisory questions on the statewide ballot, if that measure asks about a proposed federal constitutional amendment. Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association v Padilla. The vote was 6-1. Justice Chin dissented.

Four of the seven justices believe that the legislature cannot put other types of advisory measures on the statewide ballot. Two justices believe that the legislature can put any advisory question on the ballot.

The issue arose when the California legislature passed a bill to put a statewide advisory on the ballot in 2014, asking if the voters want the legislature to help pass a federal Constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United v FEC. It seems likely that the California legislature will now pass a similar bill, putting such a measure on the ballot in either June or November this year.

In 1984 the California Supreme Court ruled that the initiative process cannot be used to put advisory questions on the ballot, even if they concern a proposed federal constitutional amendment. That case was AFL v Eu, 36 Cal. 3d 687. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.