On November 27, the Ohio Green Party, and the Ohio Constitution Party, filed a motion to intervene in Libertarian Party of Ohio v Husted, southen district, 2:13cv-953. This is the lawsuit over whether the new definition of “political party” the legislature passed earlier this month can go into effect for the 2014 election. Here is the motion for intervention, which explains some of the problems for the two parties if the Court doesn’t grant relief.
On November 26, the California Libertarian Party, the Peace & Freedom Party, and the Alameda County Green Party, filed an appeal in Rubin v Bowen, the only case ever filed by minor parties against the California top-two system. The case is in state court and now goes to the State Court of Appeals, where it is case number A140387.
A U.S. District Court in Columbus, Ohio, will hold a status conference on December 4, Wednesday, in Libertarian Party of Ohio v Husted. This is the case on whether the new petition requirements passed by the legislature on November 6 can be used for the 2014 election. The party argues that due process does not permit addition of new, severe ballot access hurdles so late in the election season. The status conference will set deadlines for the briefs on each side, and it is likely that the deadlines will all be in December, so that the issue can be settled quickly.
An independent new group, created by the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, has begun working on how to improve the general election presidential debates. The group plans to meet with persons who advocate easing the standards for candidates to be invited. See this Politico news story. Of course, the group will also be meeting with the Commission on Presidential Debates. Thanks to Brian Bittner for the link.
On November 26, the Arizona Supreme Court ordered that until that court hears the case over Arizona campaign contribution limits on December 17, the lower limits should remain in place. Arizona Clean Elections Commission v Brain.
The issue arose when the 2013 session of the legislature passed HB 2593, which sharply increases contribution limits. The public funding law, passed by the voters in 1998, does not permit the legislature to make changes unless each house passes the change by a 75% vote. HB 2593 did not get that much support, but the legislature argues that increasing contribution limits is not really part of the public funding law. However, the State Court of Appeals ruled against the legislature.
