On January 28, the Louisiana Supreme Court invalidated a portion of the State Constitution that bans ex-felons from running for state or local office for 15 years after the end of their sentence. The ruling is based on a technicality: the version that passed the legislature was not the same as the version that the voters then passed. See this story.
Ever since 2001, each California qualified party has made a decision as to whether to let independent voters vote in its primaries. But in the past, these decisions were barely publicized. However, the recent decisions by California’s six qualified parties on whether to let independents vote in their presidential primaries has received publicity. For example, see this story, which, like the other stories, explains that three parties will let independents vote in their presidential primaries, and the other three won’t.
Washington, D.C. city councilmembers Jack Evans and Anita Bonds have introduced B21-576. It would make it easier for presidential candidates to get on a presidential primary ballot. Current law requires a petition of 1,000 party members (or 1% of the party membership, whichever is less). The bill would say that if a political party desires to set out its own rules, those rules would apply. Presumably, if this bill passes, the parties would simply dispense with petitions, although they would probably require a filing fee.
New York State holds presidential primaries in April. Here are the rules for ballot access. The Republicans have one plan, and the Democrats have another plan. Republican candidates need not petition. Democrats need 5,000 signatures. The State Board of Elections says any other qualified party may have a presidential primary, and is free to choose either the Republican plan or the Democratic plan.
The Alaska Democratic Party has asked the State Elections Division to permit registered independents to seek the Democratic Party nomination. The party believes it has a constitutional right to nominate non-members if it wishes. See this story.
