Scientific Study Finds that When 10% of a Population have an Unshakeable Position on a Social Issue, that Position Will Eventually Prevail

Posted on by August 17, 2012
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Approximately a year ago, scientists at the Social Cognitive Networks Academic Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute published a paper, which is described in this article. The findings are that when at least 10% of a population comes to an unshakeable conviction about a social issue, that idea will eventually prevail and be adopted by a majority. See here. Thanks to Phil Berg for the link. The theory has important implications for people who study dissident political movements, including minor parties.

Maryland State Court of Appeals Upholds Petitions Collected via the Internet

Posted on by August 17, 2012
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On August 17, the Maryland State Court of Appeals, the highest state court in Maryland, issued this brief order, agreeing with the lower court that petitions are valid when the blank petition forms had been distributed to volunteer circulators via the internet and the circulator’s home printer. The order says the court will explain its reasoning later. The case is Whitley v Maryland State Board of Elections, 133-2011.

The action puts a referendum on the ballot that asks voters if they want to repeal the state’s congressional redistricting plan. The Democratic Party tried to persuade the court to invalidate the petition, on the basis that petition blanks cannot be distributed that way. The program also made it possible for voters at home to print a blank petition, sign that petition as a voter, and also sign off as the volunteer circulator. Furthermore, the program made it possible to the signer’s address to be printed by the signer-circulator’s home printer, thus easing legibility concerns, at least for the address. Here is a story about the issues in the case, written before the decision came out. Thanks to Doug McNeil for this news.

South Carolina Disqualifies Another Primary Winner, and Election Commission Thereby Certifies the Primary Loser for the November Ballot

Posted on by August 16, 2012
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On August 16, a lower state court in South Carolina removed Mike Barnes from the November ballot, even though he won the Republican primary in June, for Greenville County Council, 18th district. In response, the State Election Commission then put the loser in that primary, the incumbent, Joe Baldwin, on the November ballot. See this story. Barnes was removed because he couldn’t prove he had filed the Statement of Economic Interests back in March. Incumbents were not required to file that form.

Baldwin still has the option to be a write-in candidate in November. He says he hasn’t decided whether to campaign as a write-in candidate.