British Columbia Holds Legislative Elections on May 14; Four Parties Have Candidates in a Majority of Districts

Posted on by April 27, 2013
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British Columbia elects a new Legislative Assembly on May 14. Currently the party line-up is 45 Liberals, 36 New Democrats, and 4 independents. At the upcoming election, those two parties, plus the Conservative Party and the Green Party, have candidates in a majority of districts.

The Green Party hopes to elect at least four members, which would enable it to have a recognized caucus in the Assembly. See the Green Party’s goals here.

Candidates get on the ballot by paying a fee. The deadline was April 26, which is only 17 days before the election itself.

Connecticut Bill to Ban Fusion Moves Ahead

Posted on by April 26, 2013
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On April 5, the Connecticut Joint Government Administration and Election Committee passed SB 1146, the bill that makes it illegal for a party to nominate a non-member. However, the bill has not yet been voted on in either House. The intent of the bill is to ban fusion, but the bill goes beyond that.

The Joint Committee has three Senators and eleven House members. Two of the three Senators, a Republican and a Democrat, voted against the bill, which suggests that the bill may have a difficult time passing the Senate. Also, the bill still hasn’t been amended to correct a flaw that would cause it to be held unconstitutional. The U.S. Supreme Court said in 1986 in Tashjian v Republican Party of Connecticut that parties have a First Amendment freedom of association right to nominate non-members if they wish. States that wish to ban fusion can do so, but states can’t make it illegal for parties to nominate any candidate just because that candidate isn’t a member of that party.

Conservative Campaign Committee PAC Launches Campaign for Write-in Candidate in South Carolina Special U.S. House Election

Posted on by April 26, 2013
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According to this story, the Conservative Campaign Committee PAC has launched a campaign to persuade voters to write-in State Senator Larry Grooms for U.S. House, in South Carolina’s upcoming special election in the First District. Grooms disavows the effort. However, South Carolina allows write-ins (for all office except President) and has no requirement that write-in candidates file a declaration of write-in candidacy. Therefore, there is nothing Grooms can do to stop the campaign for him.

Maine Bill for a Presidential Primary

Posted on by April 26, 2013
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Maine Representative Deane Rykerson (D-Kittery) has introduced LD 1422, to establish a presidential primary in Maine. If it passes, it would allow the Green Party to have its own presidential primary in 2016. Maine has never held a presidential primary for any party, except that it had one for the Democratic and Republican Parties in 1996 and 2000. For more about the bill, see this article at Frontloading HQ.