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Louisiana Legislature Passes Bill Permitting a Party to have “Independent” in its Name, or to be Called “Independent Party”

Posted on May 14, 2014 by Richard WingerMay 14, 2014

On May 13, the Louisiana Senate passed HB 193, so it is now through the legislature. It allows a party to have “Independent” in its name, or to be named simply the “Independent Party.” Thanks to Jim Riley for this news.

The bills, and similar bills, started out in this session of the legislature, as well as an earlier legislative session, as a bill to permit independent candidates to have the word “independent” as their ballot label. Independent candidates in Louisiana use the ballot label “no party.”

Nebraska Holds Primaries for Three Parties

Posted on May 14, 2014 by Richard WingerMay 14, 2014

On May 13, Nebraska held primaries for the Republican, Democratic, and Libertarian Parties. Here is a link to the unofficial returns for all three parties. The only contested Libertarian primary was for U.S. House, 2nd district.

Associated Press Mentions that Ohio Libertarians Have Asked for Rehearing Before All the Sixth Circuit Judges

Posted on May 13, 2014 by Richard WingerMay 13, 2014

The Associated Press has released this story, mentioning that the Ohio Libertarian Party has asked for a rehearing in its ballot access case before all the judges of the Sixth Circuit. It is somewhat unusual for the press to pay any attention to a rehearing request, because they are seldom granted.

Both Houses of the Oklahoma Legislature Appoint Members to Conference Committee for Ballot Access Bill

Posted on May 13, 2014 by Richard WingerMay 13, 2014

Both houses of the Oklahoma legislature have now appointed representatives to a conference committee for HB 2134. This is the bill that lowers the number of signatures for newly-qualifying parties. The Senate version of the bill also lowers the number of signatures for independent presidential candidates and the presidential nominees of unqualified parties.

The purpose of a conference committee is to work out a common bill that both houses are likely to support. The bill has already passed both houses, but different versions passed in each house. The legislature adjourns May 30.

American Independent Party Gets Publicity for Having No Candidates This Year, and for Endorsing Republicans

Posted on May 13, 2014 by Richard WingerMay 13, 2014

Cal Newsroom has this story about the American Independent Party, which features the fact that (1) no member of the party is running for any partisan office this year in California; (2) the party has endorsed many statewide Republican candidates and these endorsements appear in the statewide voter pamphlet this year.

The story is flawed because is says that the American Independent Party claims to be the fastest-growing party in California. This sentence is false and the AIP does not make that claim, nor could it, because for the last 16 months, the fastest growing parties in California have been the Peace & Freedom Party and the Libertarian Party.