On January 4, the Libertarian Party of Maine filed a lawsuit, arguing that it should be recognized as a political party in Maine. Here is the Complaint. The case is Libertarian Party of Maine v Dunlap.
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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.
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.
Bernie Sanders’ web page has this list of all the states, explaining which voters can vote for Sanders in each state. Thanks to Nancy Ross for the link.
Rocky De La Fuente’s success in getting 10,000 valid signatures so as to qualify for the North Carolina Democratic presidential primary ballot earned him this story in the Charlotte Observer.