CNN is taking possible questions for the Democratic presidential debate of October 13. This link explains how to submit a question. I hope many persons ask CNN to ask the Democratic presidential debates if they favor expanding entry into the general election presidential debates, from 15% in the polls, to something more inclusive.
On October 11, CBS News released a Republican presidential poll, showing only two candidates above 9%. They are Donald Trump at 27%, and Ben Carson at 21%. See here for the entire poll. The next Republican presidential debate is October 28 in Boulder, Colorado. If the next Republican debate used the criteria of the Commission on Presidential Debates, that debate would only include Trump and Carson.
The Huffington Post has reprinted Professor Marjorie Cohn’s Truthout piece in support of Jill Stein, the leading contender for the 2016 Green Party presidential nomination.
On October 10, California Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 477, which puts the Green Party’s internal rules into the election code. He also signed AB 1461, which says that all adult citizens known to exist in California will automatically be registered to vote, although they will be notified and given a chance to decline. But if they don’t respond, they will be registered. Unless or until the individual contacts elections officials, he or she will have a partisan designation of “unknown.” That is a different category than independent.
Several constitutional ballot access cases filed for the 2012 election are still pending.
In Georgia, the ballot access case filed by the Green and Constitution Parties is undergoing discovery, in preparation for a trial. This case challenges the law on how minor party and independent presidential candidates get on the ballot. The state requires approximately 50,000 valid signatures, and each petition sheet must be notarized. This case has been delayed, because initially the U.S. District Court upheld the law without allowing a trial, but then the 11th circuit said the case needs evidence. The state recently asked for a short extension of time in which to find expert witnesses on its side. The deadline for identifying the state’s witnesses is October 27. Discovery will be complete by November 20, 2015.
In Illinois, the Libertarian Party case against the law requiring newly-qualifying parties to file a full slate still hasn’t had a decision. Twice, the case was reassigned from one judge to another judge. The third judge to have the case has seven times announced a date when the opinion would be released, but each time she then didn’t issue it. She now says the opinion will be out before October 30.
In Pennsylvania, the case filed by the Constitution, Green, and Libertarian Parties against the threat of huge court costs (if the petition doesn’t have enough valid signatures) won in U.S. District Court on July 24, 2015, but the state has appealed, so the case is still alive.
In Tennessee, the 2011 case filed by the Constitution and Green Parties against the petition requirement for new parties (2.5% of the last gubernatorial vote) is still pending. Twice the U.S. District Court struck down the laws, and then twice the U.S. Court of Appeals sent it back, saying more evidence is needed. Discovery is complete, but no trial date has been set yet.
