New Jersey Still Can’t Decide Whether to Let Voters Register as Members of the Socialist Party

In 2013, the Socialist Party filed a lawsuit against New Jersey state election officials, seeking to gain the ability of voters to register as members of the Socialist Party. The state has again asked for a extension for the settlement conference. This is the second time the state has asked for more time. Originally it was to have been settled on November 14, 2013. The new meeting is in mid-March 2014.

Alabama Minor Parties File Opening Brief in Eleventh Circuit, in Case Against March Petition Deadline

On February 13, the Alabama Constitution, Green, and Libertarian Parties filed their opening brief in Stein v Bennett in the Eleventh Circuit. This is the case over Alabama’s March petition deadline for newly-qualifying parties in presidential years. The U.S. District Court had upheld that deadline, on the grounds that the three parties’ presidential candidates in 2012 used the independent petition procedure. That procedure requires only 5,000 signatures, and is not due until September, but does not permit the party label. The U.S. District Court said that minor parties are not severely burdened when their candidates are not allowed to have their party label on the ballot.

Paul Zukerberg Asks Highest D.C. Court to Put Office of Attorney General on Primary Ballot

Paul Zukerberg, the only candidate who filed in any District of Columbia primary to run for Attorney General, has asked the D.C. Court of Appeals to reverse a lower court ruling and put the Office of Attorney General, and his name, on the Democratic Party primary ballot. The primary is being held April 1.

Meanwhile, the current Attorney General of Washington, D.C., who was appointed, suggested that the bill pending in the city council to elect that office only in November, without party nominees, violates the City Charter. The City Charter amendment passed by the voters in 2010 said elections for Attorney General would be partisan. See this story.