Oklahoma Supreme Court Won’t Put Gary Johnson on Ballot, But Accepts Jurisdiction in the Lawsuit

Late on September 13, the Oklahoma Supreme Court issued a brief order, refusing to order elections officials to put Gary Johnson on the ballot as the Americans Elect nominee. However, the Court accepted jurisdiction in the case. The case is Lawhorn v Ziriax, 111026. There may be more details from the Court later on September 14.

The state officers of Americans Elect had nominated Gary Johnson in July. The state made no decision on whether to accept the filing, until August 29, when it rejected the filing. On August 31, Americans Elect had filed a lawsuit directly in the Oklahoma Supreme Court, seeking to validate its filing. The only oral argument in the case was held in front of a referee, who then made a report to the Court. As far as is known, the referee’s report hasn’t yet been made available to the public.

Iowa Republican Presidential Elector Candidate Who had Threatened to Vote for Ron Paul Resigns, Will be Replaced

Melinda Wadsley, an Iowa presidential elector candidate for the Republican Party, has resigned. The Republican Party will be allowed to replace her with someone else. See this story.

In Iowa, as in 44 other states, the names of presidential elector candidates do not appear on the November ballot. Five states still print the names of presidential elector candidates on the ballot. It is not clear how a resignation would be handled in those five states, which are Arizona, Idaho, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota, especially if the ballots had already been printed.

All Five Independent Presidential Petitions in Rhode Island are Valid

The Rhode Island Secretary of State had determined that all five presidential independent petitions submitted this year are valid. The two newly-validated petitions are those for the Party for Socialism and Liberation, and the Justice Party. The Secretary of State had previously said that the Libertarian, Green and Constitution Party petitions are valid.

Kansas State Officials Reject Attempt to Place Andre Barnett on the Ballot as the Reform Party Nominee

On September 13, the Kansas State Objections Board rejected the attempt of national leaders of the Reform Party to have Andre Barnett listed as the Reform Party presidential nominee. The national convention of the Reform Party, meeting in Philadelphia August 11-12, had chosen Barnett for President. But the Kansas Reform Party state officers certified Chuck Baldwin as the state party’s presidential nominee.

The State Objections Board, composed of the Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and Secretary of State, heard testimony about the dispute, and then ruled that the state party has the authority to name the presidential electors, and therefore the state party determines which presidential nominee to list. The same board made a similar ruling in 2008, when the state Reform Party also chose Baldwin for President, even though the 2008 national Reform Party convention had chosen Ted Weill for President.

Now that the Reform Party of Kansas has clearly established that it, and not the national convention, has authority to determine the presidential nominee, it is possible that the state party will revise its presidential nominee. Baldwin is apparently willing to withdraw in favor of Virgil Goode.