On July 25, the trial began in the lawsuit in Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, over the state’s new law, requiring voters at the polls to show government photo-ID at the polls. See this story. The plaintiffs are basing their case on the state constitution.
In February 2012, the Socialist Equality Party had announced its presidential and vice-presidential nominees, but had not said the ticket expected to qualify for the ballot in any state. In 2008 the Socialist Equality Party has also announced a ticket, but that ticket did not qualify for the ballot in any state.
However, this year, the party is petitioning to place its national ticket on the Wisconsin ballot. The nominees are Jerry White, 52, for President; and Phyllis Scherrer, 48, for Vice-President.
Assuming the White-Scherrer gets on the ballot in Wisconsin, and possibly other states, that will make at least four parties in 2012 with “Socialist” or “Socialism” in their name, which will have a presidential nominee on a ballot. The other such tickets in 2012 are those of the Socialist Party, the Party for Socialism and Liberation, and the Socialist Workers Party. There is also a 2012 ticket for the Freedom Socialist Party, but that ticket is not expected to be on the ballot anywhere, unless possibly the Peace & Freedom Party nominates that ticket.
On July 25, the Sixth Circuit heard arguments in Green Party of Tennessee v Hargett, 12-5271. Most of the discussion was over the part of the U.S. District Court decision that said all parties must have an equal chance to obtain the best spot on the ballot, and the part of the U.S. District Court decision that struck down the number of signatures required for party status. In 2012, that number is 40,042 signatures.
The three judges hearing the case are Ronald Danny Boggs (a Reagan appointee), Bernice Donald (an Obama appointee), and Ronald Gilman (a Clinton appointee).
Eight Democratic nominees for Will County Board (Illinois) have been removed from the November ballot, because of technical flaws in the way the party nominated the candidates. See this story. Thanks to Bill Van Allen for the link. The candidates expect to sue to overturn the decision of the election board.
An Arizona Superior Court Judge will hear arguments on August 3, in the lawsuit over whether the Arizona initiative for a top-two open primary system violates the “Single Subject” rule for initiatives. Here is the Complaint.
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