Larry Lessig’s web page says here that he has qualified for primary season matching funds. That will help him get on Democratic presidential primary ballots in Delaware, Montana, and Ohio. Most mainstream presidential candidates no longer filing for primary season matching funds, because recipients are then subject to spending limits that apply state-by-state.
The Federal Election Commission is not permitted to award primary season matching funds until January 1 of the election year.
On October 8, two Socialist Party candidates for the California legislature filed a federal lawsuit against the California law that forces them to have “party preference: none” on the ballot, if they run for Congress or partisan state office. Soltysik v Padilla, c.d., 2:15cv-7916-AB. They want to have “party preference: Socialist” on the ballot.
Because California no longer has party nominees for Congress or partisan state office, there is no purpose for the party labels shown on California ballots except to give information to the voters about that candidate’s principles. California only permits candidates who are members of qualified parties to have a partisan label on the ballot.
By contrast, Washington state, which has a top-two system very much like California’s, lets all candidates choose any partisan label they wish, as long as it is not obscene and not longer than 15 characters.
The lawsuit is an ACLU case. The two candidate-plaintiffs are Emidio “Mimi” Soltysik and Jennifer McClellan. Both are registered Socialists. Here is a press release. The case is assigned to Judge Andre Birotte, Jr., an Obama appointee.
A few months ago, the Commission on Presidential Debates said it would release its rules on who may participate in the general election presidential debates at least one year before those debates. However, the first Commission on Presidential Debates event is set for September 26, 2016, and the Commission still hasn’t announced its rules.
On June 29, the New Jersey legislature passed AB 4613. It provides that the government will automatically register all adult citizen residents known to exist. It also allows no-excuse early absentee voting, and lets 17-year-olds pre-register.
Governor Chris Christie still has not acted on the bill. The rules say he can delay deciding whether to sign or veto the bill until the legislature comes into session. The legislature may come into session this month. If it does not, it will come into session next month.
California Governor Jerry Brown has until the end of Sunday, October 11, to decide whether to sign or veto two election law bills. So far he hasn’t acted on either one.
AB 477 puts the Green Party’s internal rules into the election code. AB 1461 is a major bill that provides all adult citizens known to exist will automatically be registered, although they will be contacted and asked if they wish to opt out. If they don’t respond, they will be registered.
