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Florida State Court Says Legislative Candidates Need Not Live in District on Date They File

Posted on July 20, 2014 by Richard WingerJuly 20, 2014

On July 18, a Florida state court ruled that legislative candidates cannot be required to live in any particular district. This is because the State Constitution sets the qualifications for state legislature. Like the U.S. Constitution, the Florida Constitution’s residency requirement only applies to a candidate’s residence on election day. Therefore, because the filing date is several months before the election, there is in effect no residency requirement, because no one knows where any particular candidate will be living on election day, which is in the future. See this story. The headline implies the ruling only applies to write-in candidates, but it actually applies to all candidates, write-in or on the ballot.

Georgia Election Officials Say Bill Bozarth, Independent Candidate for Legislature, Has Enough Valid Signatures

Posted on July 19, 2014 by Richard WingerJuly 19, 2014

Bill Bozarth, an independent candidate for Georgia House of Representatives, has enough valid signatures to be on the November 2014 ballot. See this story. So far he is the only petitioning candidate to have succeeded in getting on the ballot for any federal or state office in Georgia this year. The Libertarian Party has a nominee for state representative, Jeff Amason, who is still waiting to here if he has enough valid signatures. Georgia Libertarians are on the ballot automatically for statewide offices, but not U.S. House or state legislature or county partisan office.

Sixth Circuit Sets Oral Argument in Tennessee Ballot Access Case

Posted on July 18, 2014 by Richard WingerJuly 18, 2014

The Sixth Circuit will hear Green Party of Tennessee v Hargett, 13-5975, on August 7, at 9 a.m in Cincinnati. This is the case in which the Green Party and the Constitution Party challenged the 2.5% petition for a group to become a qualified party. The U.S. District Court had struck down that petition requirement last year. The legislature has refused to amend it and the legislature hopes the Sixth Circuit will reverse the 2013 decision of the U.S. District Court.

Illinois Libertarians Likely to Survive Challenge to Statewide Petition

Posted on July 17, 2014 by Richard WingerJuly 17, 2014

For the last four days, the Illinois State Board of Elections has been adjudicating the challenge for the statewide Libertarian Party petition, and also the statewide Constitution Party petition. The state requires 25,000 signatures. Libertarians turned in more than 43,000, and with the process two-thirds done, 44% of the challenged 23,000 signatures have been ruled valid. At that rate, the outcome will provide a comfortable margin.

The Constitution Party slate, which turned in approximately 30,600, is less likely to qualify. So far, approximately 50% of its challenged signatures are being upheld, but the number of signatures that were challenged is so large that it will probably be below the requirement.

The challenge process hasn’t started yet for the Green Party statewide slate.

Four Parties Will Have Statewide Nominees on Rhode Island 2014 Ballot

Posted on July 17, 2014 by Richard WingerJuly 17, 2014

The November 2014 election in Rhode Island will include statewide nominees from four political parties. The Moderate Party will have James B. Spooner for Governor, and William Gilbert for Lieutenant Governor. The Libertarian Party will have Tony Jones on the ballot for Lieutenant Governor. Rhode Island voters elect Lieutenant Governor separately from Governor.

The Moderate Party is ballot-qualified, and also has one legislative nominee this year. However, it will go off the ballot unless it polls 5% for Governor. The party’s founder, Ken Block, is seeking the Republican nomination for Governor. Primaries are September 9.

This is the first time the Rhode Island Libertarian Party has had a statewide nominee on the ballot in a midterm year.

There are several independents running for Governor. Independent Ernest Almonte is running for Treasurer, and is considered to have a chance to win.