The Akron Daily Journal has this editorial, saying the Ohio legislature should not force the state’s four qualified minor parties to petition for a place on the 2014 ballot. The Ohio legislature will decide on the ballot access rules this week when the legislature takes final action on SB 193.
On October 30, a group of Northern Cheyenne voter-plaintiffs obtained a ruling from the Ninth Circuit in Wandering Medicine v McCulloch, 12-35926. Last year election administrators in three Montana counties refused to open satellite voting offices in certain Native American reservations that are remote from county seats. A U.S. District Court Judge last year upheld the election administrators. The Ninth Circuit has now vacated the U.S. District Court decision. The plaintiffs will re-argue the case for future elections. The U.S. District Court had dismissed the case on the grounds that Native Americans have been successful in electing their own members to county office. That U.S. District Court Judge has since retired and now the case will go to another U.S. District Court Judge.
Satellite voting offices make it possible for individuals to register late in the season, and also to participate in early voting.
On November 4, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear Worley v Detzner, 13-333. The lower court had upheld a Florida law that required groups that spend as little as $500 either supporting or opposing a ballot measure to file campaign disclosure reports, both initially and then periodically.
The November 3 Plain Dealer, Cleveland’s daily newspaper, has this editorial, strongly condemning SB 193, the ballot access bill.
This story explains that former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Jim Wright, who is 90 years old and who no longer has a valid drivers license, is being forced to make multiple trips to government offices in order to satisfy the Texas requirements for government photo-ID. Thanks to PoliticalWire for the link.
