Kyrsten Sinema, Newly-Elected Arizona Congresswoman, Was Once a Green Party Nominee for Arizona Legislature

Posted on by November 13, 2012
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Over the years, many major party nominees have been elected to Congress who started out in electoral politics as members and candidates for a minor party. The newest example is Kyrsten Sinema, who has just been elected to the U.S. House from Arizona as a Democrat. In 2002, she was the Green Party nominee for Arizona State House, 15th district (Tucson). The Green Party listed her in 2002 as one of their star candidates who had a chance of being elected. As a Green, she polled 16.38% of the vote in 2002.

One of the advantages of minor parties in the U.S. is that they often serve as a training ground for aspiring young people who first run as minor party nominees. The experience of running can be educational for the candidate, and may increase self-confidence enough to then switch to a major party.

Michigan Elected Officials Offer Competing Ideas on Changing Process by which Initiatives Get on Ballot

Posted on by November 13, 2012
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This story collects many ideas proposed recently by various Michigan elected officials, on whether and how to change the procedure by which statewide initiatives get on the ballot. The story says that former Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land has suggested making it possible for voters to sign initiative petitions on-line.

The story also says a bill has just been introduced in the Michigan legislature by Representative Ken Horn, to outlaw paying petition circulators on a per-signature basis. However, the 6th circuit has already invalidated a similar Ohio law, and Michigan is also in the 6th circuit. The Michigan legislature (the one elected in 2010) is still in session, and Michigan lets legislators introduce new bills as late in the session as they wish. However, a bill introduced this late is very unlikely to pass. Thanks to Thomas Jones for the link.

Both Minor Party Candidates for the Washington State Legislature Poll Approximately 25% of the Vote in Two-Candidate Races

Posted on by November 13, 2012
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In Washington state this year, no minor party or independent candidates appeared on the November ballot for Congress, and only two minor party candidates appeared on the November ballot for state legislature. Both minor party candidates only qualified for the November ballot because, in each case, only one major party member filed to run in the primary. When there is only one major party member running, that makes it possible for a minor party member to place second in the primary, and appear on the November ballot.

The Green Party entered such a race in the 40th district in Whatcom and Skagit Counties, and the Socialist Alternative Party entered such a race in the 43rd district in Seattle. Both polled surprisingly high percentages in November. The Socialist Alternative Party candidate, Kshama Sawant, polled 28.62% (although not all the votes have been counted yet); the Green Party member, Howard A. Pellett, polled 24.13%. Both were running against incumbent Democrats.

Sawant’s ballot label was “Socialist Altern.” Washington state won’t allow party labels longer than 15 characters. If she had been running in California, the law would have not permitted her to have that label on the ballot. Instead, her label would have been “no party preference.” Under California rules, the whole significance of a self-designated socialist winning as much support as she did would have been eviscerated. That is an example of why party labels on the ballot are so important.

U.S. Supreme Court Won’t Hear the Kinston, North Carolina Case on Constitutionality of Voting Rights Act

Posted on by November 13, 2012
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On November 13, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Nix v Holder, 12-81. This is the challenge to the federal Voting Rights Act that started in Kinston, North Carolina. It was formerly called LaRoque v Holder. It started when the voters of Kinston voted to switch municipal elections from partisan elections to non-partisan elections. The U.S. Justice Department initially refused to approve that change. The Justice Department felt blacks would have a better chance of being elected to the city council if partisan elections were in place. But after a potential independent candidate for city council, and some other voters, sued, the Justice Department changed its mind and approved the change.

The U.S. Supreme Court has already agreed to hear an Alabama challenge to the Voting Rights Act, so the court’s disinterest in the North Carolina case is not of great importance. However, because one of the plaintiffs in the North Carolina case was an independent candidate, who argued he had standing because ballot access for independent candidates in North Carolina is extremely restrictive and therefore he would be better off with a non-partisan system, that made the North Carolina case interesting for people who care about ballot access. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the news.

Mitt Romney Received Zero Votes in Nine Precincts in Cleveland

Posted on by November 12, 2012
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According to this story, Mitt Romney received zero votes in nine precincts in Cleveland, Ohio. In seven of those precincts, though, some minor party or independent presidential candidates received votes. Thanks to Jim Goodluck for the link.

Also, in Hill County, Montana, precinct #28, which seems to be entirely or almost entirely on a Chippewa Cree reservation, the vote for President was: Obama 552, Gary Johnson 8, Mitt Romney 2. The U.S. Senate results in the same precinct are: the Democratic nominee received 551; the Libertarian nominee received 5; the Republican nominee received 2. Thanks to Mike Fellows for that news.

It would be interesting to see if there are any precincts that are composed of all Latter-Day Saint members (perhaps in Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Arizona, or Nevada) that were unanimous for Romney. Of course not all LDS members are Republicans.