New Mexico Secretary of State Says Constitution Party Petition is Valid

Posted on by May 2, 2014
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The Constitution Party petition for a place on the 2014 New Mexico ballot has been approved by the Secretary of State. This is the first successful Constitution Party statewide ballot access petition so far this year.

The New Mexico law on how a party remains on the ballot is very unusual. A party can remain ballot-qualified in New Mexico forever, if it continues to run at least one partisan nominee (for any office) every two years, and as long as it abstains from running for Governor and President. But if it should run for Governor or President, then and only then is its status at risk. If it does run for either of those offices, it must poll one-half of 1% of the total vote. The Constitution Party is not running anyone for Governor this year, but it does have candidates for certain other partisan offices. Therefore it will also be on the ballot in 2016.

The only other ballot-qualified parties in New Mexico at this time are the Republican, Democratic, Libertarian, and Independent American Parties.

Three Independents Qualify for U.S. Senate Race in South Dakota

Posted on by May 2, 2014
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According to this story, three independent candidates for U.S. Senate have enough valid signatures in South Dakota. The latest entry is Clayton Walker, who submitted 3,500 signatures. The requirement was 3,171 signatures. Walker’s high validity rate is probably because he collected virtually all his signtures door-to-door. He estimates he knocked on 10,000 doors, almost entirely during winter, to get his 3,500 signatures. Much of the time, he worked while snow was falling, and he says many of his petition sheets were still wet when he submitted them.

This will be the first U.S. Senate election in South Dakota history since 1924 with more than two independent candidates on the ballot. Back in 1924, statewide independents only needed 200 signatures.

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Removes Republican Gubernatorial Candidate from Primary Ballot

Posted on by May 1, 2014
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On May 1, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court removed Robert Guzzardi from the Republican primary ballot. He had enough valid signatures, but he didn’t file a particular campaign finance document. Election officials told him he didn’t need to file the document, but they misinformed him. See this story.

Guzzardi’s name is on the ballots that are being used for absentee voting. The primary is May 20. Guzzardi was the only person running in the Republican primary against incumbent Governor Tom Corbett. Thanks to Ken Krawchuk for this news.

Ohio Libertarian Party Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Put its Statewide Candidates on Primary Ballot

Posted on by May 1, 2014
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On May 1, the Ohio Libertarian Party asked the U.S. Supreme Court to put its statewide candidates on the primary ballot. Here is the 28-page request. The document appears to be longer than 28 pages because it has the court decisions from the lower courts attached.

One of the many points the brief raises is that if it is really important for Ohio to enforce the law that requires all circulators to show their employers on each sheet, the Secretary of State would enforce it. In this case, he did not enforce it and put the Libertarians on the primary ballot. But when a private individual filed a challenge, then it was enforced.

In the U.S. Supreme Court, the case is no. 13A1089. Here is a news story about the filing.