Analysis of Arizona Primary Predicts a More Centrist Arizona Legislature

Posted on by August 30, 2012
2

According to this analysis, published in Arizona’s largest daily newspaper, the August 28 Arizona primary results indicate the 2013 session of the Arizona legislature will be more centrist, more closely balanced between the two major parties, and more business-friendly.

This conclusion has some consequences for the ongoing battle over whether Arizona should convert its elections to top-two open primaries. Business has been heavily backing the initiative because it has been so unhappy with the “Tea Party” influence in the 2011-2012 session of the legislature.

Michigan Libertarian Ballot Access Case to be Argued September 6

Posted on by August 30, 2012
7

On August 30, U.S. District Court Judge Paul Borman set September 6 for a hearing in Libertarian Party of Michigan v Ruth Johnson. The state has until September 4 to file its response to the Libertarian Party’s brief asking for summary judgment, and then the party can respond the next day. The hearing will be in Detroit at 3 p.m. on September 6. The issue is whether Gary Johnson can be on the ballot. The Libertarian Party is ballot-qualified but the state says it won’t print Johnson’s name because his name appeared on the February presidential primary ballot.

Although the Michigan Libertarian Party’s submission of Johnson’s name asked that, if Johnson can’t appear, that the state party’s presidential second-choice is Gary E. Johnson of Austin, Texas, the state has never responded to that alternate choice, and its web page continues to list no Libertarian for President. The party’s lawsuit does not discuss the alternate Johnson.

The state’s web page also does not list James P. Gray for vice-president. Presumably the state has also disqualified all the Michigan Libertarian Party presidential elector candidates, even though it has not said that formally. In 1960, Michigan permitted voters to cast votes for an unpledged slate of presidential electors, who were running for the Independent American Party, a party that only existed in Michigan.

New York Working Families Party Will Choose a Presidential Nominee on September 5

Posted on by August 29, 2012
8

The Working Families Party of New York will formally choose a presidential nominee on September 5. It is overwhelmingly likely that it will nominate President Obama.

The real mystery concerning New York ballot-qualified parties is which presidential candidate the Independence Party will choose. The deadline for qualified parties to submit this information is September 10. The New York State Independence Party continues to tell people that it will decide on September 22, but that is too late.

Alaska Green Party Petition for President is Valid

Posted on by August 29, 2012
7

On August 29, the Alaska Division of Elections determined that the Green Party’s petition for “Limited Political Party” status is valid. A “Limited Political Party” in Alaska is one that is entitled to have its presidential and vice-presidential nominees on the November ballot. This is the first successful statewide petition in Alaska for the Green Party since 1994. The party was ballot-qualified 1994 through 2004.

Republican Party National Platform Has Muddled Statement About Electoral College

Posted on by February 24, 2019
26

The 2012 Republican Party national platform has this plank on the electoral college: “We oppose the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact or any other scheme to abolish or distort the procedures of the Electoral College. We recognize that an unconstitutional effort to impose ‘national popular vote’ would be a mortal threat to our federal system and a guarantee of corruption as every ballot box in every state would become a chance to steal the presidency.”

Under existing law, there isn’t one “procedure” for the electoral college. In Maine and Nebraska, each U.S. House district chooses its own presidential elector, whereas in the other 48 states and D.C., the winner-take-all rule applies. One can’t determine whether the Republican Party plank is meant to oppose the Nebraska/Maine method or not. Also the Texas Constitution says if the vote within Texas for president is too close to be adjudicated, the state legislature has the authority to choose the state’s presidential electors. One wonders if the plank is meant to express disapproval of the Texas provision.

The plank’s last sentence seems to be an admission that under current law, the voters of most states do not actually help determine who wins the presidential election.