U.S. News & World Report has this interview with Ralph Nader about the 2016 presidential candidates.
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The Green Party is not ballot-qualified in Illinois, but it is ballot-qualified in two U.S. House districts in Illinois, and it nominates by primary in those two districts. In the 5th district in Chicago, three Greens filed and two of them were challenged. Richard Mayers was removed from the Green Party primary ballot on the grounds that he is not registered to vote. Rob Sherman remained on the ballot. He will face Warren Grimsley in the March primary.
Both the Ninth and Tenth Circuits have ruled that states cannot require candidates for Congress to be registered voters. But Illinois is in the Seventh Circuit, where the issue has never been litigated. The Green Party is not sympathetic to Richard Mayers because his political views do not match the party’s values.
Cook Political Report has this chart of all states and territories, giving the date of Republican caucuses and primaries in time order. The chart also shows which voters may participate. The Cook Report uses the term “mixed” to describe places in which independents can choose a Republican presidential primary.
The Cook chart is incorrect for Arizona. The Arizona Republican primary is closed, but the Cook Report says it is open. Also the Cook chart says Ohio is mixed, but it is open.
Finally, the chart shows how many delegates each state sends to the Republican convention. Thanks to Political Wire for the link.
Utah Representative Patrice Arent (D-Millcreek) has introduced HB 119 to eliminate the Utah straight-ticket device. It has a Republican co-sponsor, but the Republican Party opposes the bill. See this story.
On January 7, a 3-judge U.S. District Court in Virginia redrew some of the boundaries of U.S. House districts in Virginia. See this story. The uncertainty as to whether the action will be permanent or not will make it difficult for minor party and independent candidates to begin petitioning. Such petitions must carry the names of candidates for presidential elector, with one elector candidate being required to live in each district. The fact that the U.S. Supreme Court might change the boundaries again will make it difficult for petitioning to begin. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.