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Public Policy Institute of California Suggests Changes to California Top-Two System to Give More Voter Choice in November

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Richard WingerMay 5, 2014

On April 30, the Public Policy Institute of California issued this 21-page report on the California top-two law. The analysis recommends that voter choice be expanded for the November ballot, to more than just two candidates. The report says either write-in space should be restored to the November ballot for Congress and partisan state office, or else there be a petition procedure by which a candidate can get on the November ballot even if he or she didn’t place first or second in June.

The Report also points out that in the June 2012 primary, turnout was the second lowest turnout for a California statewide primary in history. The only one that was lower was the June 2008 primary, which did not have any statewide offices (the 2008 presidential primary was held in a separate primary in February).

North Carolina and Ohio Both Hold Primaries for Minor Parties as Well as Major Parties, on May 6

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Richard WingerMay 5, 2014

Three states hold primaries on May 6: Indiana, North Carolina, and Ohio. They are the first primaries this year, other than the Illinois, Texas and District of Columbia primaries.

Both North Carolina and Ohio are holding primaries for more than just two parties. In North Carolina, the Libertarian Party has a contested primary for U.S. Senate. Any registered Libertarian, and any registered independent, can vote in that primary. The two major parties in North Carolina also let independent voters vote in their primaries.

The only other time North Carolina held a primary for the Libertarian Party was in 2012, when the party had a contested presidential primary. Almost 8,000 voters voted in the Libertarian 2012 primary.

Ohio is holding statwide primaries for the Libertarian Party and the Green Party, and primaries in certain parts of the state for the Constitution Party and the Socialist Party. No minor party in Ohio has any statewide candidates on its primary ballot, but the Green and Libertarian Parties have declared write-in candidates for some of the statewide offices: Governor for the Greens, and Secretary of State and Auditor for the Libertarians. Statewide candidates of the minor parties must poll 500 write-ins, in order to advance to November.

Although the Indiana Libertarian Party is ballot-qualified, it nominates by convention, not by primary.

Both Indiana and Ohio have open primaries. The voter registration forms in those two states do not ask voters to indicate partisan affiliation.

Vermont Conference Committee Moves Independent Candidate Petition Deadline from June to August

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Richard WingerMay 5, 2014

On May 2, a Vermont legislative conference committee approved a re-write of Senate Bill 86. The new version of the bill moves the independent petition candidate deadline from June to August. The bill sets August 1 as the presidential petition deadline, and the deadline for independent candidates running for other office will be the Thursday before the primary.

The re-written bill also sets the primary date as the second Tuesday of August. Current law has the primary on the fourth Tuesday in August, and the House had wanted the primary on the first Tuesday of August. Assuming the bill passes, the 2014 independent candidate petition deadline will be August 7 and the primary will be August 12.

The Senate will vote on the new version of the bill on August 5. Assuming the revised bill passes, there will be only four states with independent presidential petition deadlines earlier than July: North Carolina, Texas, New Mexico, and Illinois.

Florida Candidate Filing Closes for Congressional Candidates

Posted on May 4, 2014 by Richard WingerMay 4, 2014

May 2 was the deadline for Florida candidates to file a declaration of candidacy and the filing fee, for Congress. Here is a link to the candidate list. There are six U.S. House districts without a Democratic-Republican contest: Democrats failed to file anyone in four districts, and Republicans in two districts. By comparison, in 2012, there were also six U.S. House districts without a Democratic-Republican contest.

In 2014, there are Libertarians in two districts; in 2012, there was a Libertarian in only one district. No other parties are running any candidates for Congress.

In 2014, seven districts have independent candidates; in 2012, there were twelve districts with independent candidates. In the 13th district, the Democratic Party is supporting an independent candidate, Ed Jany. The order of the candidates on the November ballot in the 13th district will be: Republican David W. Jolly, Libertarian Lucas Overby, independent Ed Jany.

For state office, the deadline is not until June. Nevertheless, many candidates for state office have already filed, and they are also on the state’s web page. For the statewide races, so far, the Libertarian, Socialist, and Independent Parties each have a candidate for Governor. Libertarians have a candidate for Attorney General, the first minor party candidate for that office in the ballot since 1912. There are two Libertarians running against each other for Governor, John Wayne Smith and Adrian Wyllie, so the state will hold a statewide minor party primary for the first time in Florida history.

Boston Globe Story Says Republican Candidates for Lesser Statewide Massachusetts Offices May Fail to Qualify

Posted on May 4, 2014 by Richard WingerMay 4, 2014

The Boston Globe has this story about the Massachusetts Republican Party. The third paragraph says unnamed sources say some of the party’s candidates for lesser statewide office may fail to get on the primary ballot. The petition deadline is May 6 (Tuesday). Primary candidates for Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General each need 10,000 signatures. Candidates for Secretary of State, Auditor, and Treasurer, each need 5,000 signatures. The only people who can sign are Republicans and voters who are registered outside of any qualified party.