Incumbent Virginia Legislator Told Only 222 of His 972 Signatures are Valid; Lawsuit Filed

Posted on by April 8, 2015
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Virginia Delegate Joseph D. Morrissey, who was re-elected as an independent in a special election on January 13, 2015, wants to seek the Democratic nomination for State Senate, 16th district, this year. When Virginia parties choose to use primaries to nominate candidates, a petition is required to get on the primary ballot. Morrissey needed 250 valid signatures to run for State Senate in the June 2015 Democratic primary. He submitted 972 signatures.

However, the party checked his signatures and says only 222 are valid. He contests that and has filed a lawsuit in state court to show that he does have enough valid signatures. See this story.

Oklahoma Senate Rules Committee Amends Ballot Access Bill from 1% to 3%, But Passes It

Posted on by April 8, 2015
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On April 8, the Oklahoma Senate Rules Committee amended HB 2181, the bill easing ballot access for newly-qualifying parties. The bill as passed by the House sets the petition at 1% of the last gubernatorial vote. As amended by the Senate Rules Committee, the bill is 3% of the last gubernatorial vote. The amended bill then passed the Committee 11-1.

3% of the last gubernatorial vote would be 24,745 valid signatures. Even if the bill is signed into law in this form, Oklahoma would still be the only state in the nation with no method to get on the November ballot for President (outside of the two major parties) that is at or below 2% of the last gubernatorial vote.

The existing law requires 41,242 signatures for 2016, and required 66,744 signatures for 2014. Thanks to E. Zachary Knight for the news.

California Supreme Court Has Now Received Three Briefs in Minor Party Lawsuit Against Top-Two System

Posted on by April 8, 2015
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The web page Restore Voter Choice has links to all the briefs filed so far in the California Supreme Court, in Rubin v Padilla. The minor parties filed their opening brief in early March 2015, and the government and the intervening defenders of the top-two system filed briefs at the end of March. It is likely that the minor parties will file a reply brief soon.

New Hampshire Libertarian Party Argues Republican National Committee Should Not be Allowed to Intervene in Ballot Access Case

Posted on by April 8, 2015
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On April 6, the New Hampshire Libertarian Party filed this brief, arguing that the U.S. District Court that is hearing the Libertarian Party’s ballot access case should not let the Republican National Committee intervene in the case. The Libertarian brief argues that the case was filed in July 2014 and if the Republican Party had wanted to intervene, it should have done so last year. The Libertarians point out that if intervention is allowed, the case will be delayed. Thanks to Darryl Perry for the link.