Oklahoma Hearing on Who Controls the Oklahoma Americans Elect Ballot Line Lasts One Hour, Ten Minutes; Courtroom is Packed

Posted on by September 5, 2012
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On September 5, a referee for the Oklahoma Supreme Court heard arguments in the lawsuit filed by the Americans Elect Party of Oklahoma against the State Board of Elections. The issue is whether the state should accept the nomination of Gary Johnson, made by the state party on July 21; or whether the state should follow the wishes of the national Americans Elect Party leaders, who don’t want any party nominations in any state.

The hearing lasted one hour and ten minutes, and the small hearing room was filled to capacity, so that some observers had to stand. The state will be given a chance to file a reply brief no later than September 11. Here is a short news story about the hearing.

Ohio Socialist Party Nominee for U.S. Senate in 2010 Wins Partial Court Victory Over Debate Exclusion

Posted on by September 5, 2012
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On September 5, U.S. District Court Judge Rudolph Contreras, from the District of Columbia district, issued an 18-page decision about debates. The case is La Botz v Federal Election Commission, 11-1247. It says that the FEC was wrong to have dismissed a complaint filed by the 2010 Socialist Party’s U.S. Senate candidate in Ohio, Dan La Botz. La Botz had been denied participation in the U.S. Senate candidate debates, which were restricted to only the Democratic and Republican nominees. The debates had been sponsored by a consortium of eight Ohio newspapers, which are corporations. FEC rules provide that debates sponsored by for-profit corporations may exclude some candidates, but the debate sponsors must have predetermined, objective criteria as to whom should be invited.

When La Botz was refused entry to the debates, he complained to the FEC, which dismissed his complaint, even though it appeared that the debate sponsors had no objective criteria when they planned the debates. The ruling says the FEC must re-examine the case. The decision also says the case is not moot, because (1) La Botz has said he intends to run for public office in the future; (2) even if he hadn’t said that, it is likely that similar cases involving other minor party and independent candidates will arise in the future in Ohio.

Quebec Election Results

Posted on by September 5, 2012
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Quebec held an election for its provincial legislature on September 4. Quebec, and all Canadian provinces, use the same election system the U.S. uses, “first past the post”. Whoever gets the most votes in each single-member district is elected.

The Parti Quebecois polled 31.93% of the popular vote, and won 54 seats.

The Liberal Party (the party that had been in power) polled 31.20% of the popular vote, and won 50 seats.

A new party, the Coalition Avenir Quebec, polled 27.05% of the popular vote, but only won 19 seats. It believes Quebec should forget about leaving Canada.

Quebec Solidaire, a party of the left, polled 6.03% of the popular vote and won two seats.

Two other parties polled at least 1% of the popular vote, but didn’t win any seats. They are Option Nationale, which is more in favor of Quebec becoming an independent nation than any of the other parties. It won 1.90% of the vote. Also, the Green Party (Parti Vert) won 1.00% of the popular vote. Thanks to Sam Harley and Thomas Jones for this news.

Wyoming Petition for Jill Stein Lacks Enough Valid Signatures

Posted on by September 5, 2012
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The only independent candidate who tried to get on the Wyoming ballot for President this year was Jill Stein. However, the Secretary of State has determined that she didn’t have enough valid signatures. Wyoming requires a petition of 2% of the last Congressional vote, which is tied for being the second-highest presidential petition requirement in the nation. Only Oklahoma has a higher percentage for President, when the easier of both methods (party and independent) for each state are compared.

An independent candidate for U.S. House also tried to get on the Wyoming ballot this year, but his petition was also found invalid.

Libertarian Party Petition in New Hampshire is Valid

Posted on by September 5, 2012
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The New Hampshire Secretary of State has determined that the Libertarian Party has enough valid signatures on its party petition, and will have its nominees on the November ballot.

The candidate petitions for the Green Party presidential nominee, Jill Stein, and the Constitution Party presidential nominee, Virgil Goode, have not yet been submitted to the Secretary of State. They are due at 5 p.m. September 5. It is expected that both campaigns will submit the petitions, which have already been verified by various town clerks, to the Secretary of State today. He will then make a final, official tabulation.