New Mexico Non-Partisan Think Tank Asks Democratic Party and Republican Party to Let Independents Vote in their Primaries

Posted on by April 25, 2013
Reply

Think New Mexico, a non-partisan think tank, has asked the Republican Party of New Mexico, and also the Democratic Party of New Mexico, to amend their bylaws and let independent voters participate in their primaries. See this story. New Mexico was one of the last states in the nation to even have primaries. Until 1938, all parties nominated by convention. Primaries have existed since 1938, but have always been closed.

Here is more information about Think New Mexico. The group understands case law, and in its advocacy to the parties, correctly points out that the decision on whether to let independents vote in party primaries is a decision for the party to make, not a decision for the state.

Washington State Bill, Putting All Non-Partisan Elections for State Office on the November Ballot, Passes Legislature

Posted on by April 25, 2013
Reply

On April 22, the Washington state legislature passed HB 1474. It provides that in all cases, non-partisan state office elections will always appear on the November ballot. Under current law, for state offices that are non-partisan, if anyone gets 50% or more in the August primary, the person is deemed elected.

But under the bill, the state non-partisan offices will always appear on the November ballot, even if someone got 100% of the votes in the August primary. Washington state has write-in space on the November ballot, so even if only one candidate will appear on the November ballot (because only one person filed), in theory the person could be defeated by a write-in candidate in November. Here is the text of the bill, which is very short.

The non-partisan state offices are Superintendent of Public Instruction, and all three levels of state judge (Supreme, Appeals, and Superior). Here is a news story about the bill. Thanks to Rob Richie for the link.

April 2013 Ballot Access News Print Edition

Posted on by April 25, 2013
Reply

Ballot Access News
April 1, 2013 – Volume 28, Number 11

This issue was printed on white paper.

Table of Contents

  1. ARIZONA JUDGE SAYS LISTING ONLY THE DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN PARTIES ON REGISTRATION FORMS IS OK
  2. COLORADO DISCRIMINATORY CAMPAIGN LAW UPHELD
  3. LIBERTARIANS WIN TWO PROCEDURAL VICTORIES
  4. OTHER LAWSUIT NEWS
  5. SOME BALLOT ACCESS BILLS ADVANCE
  6. OTHER ELECTION BILLS
  7. BOOK REVIEW: RADICALS IN POWER
  8. WHEN DID EACH STATE LAST ELECT A GOVERNOR WHO WASN’T A DEMOCRATIC OR REPUBLICAN NOMINEE?
  9. VIRGINIA LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WON’T BE AN INDEPENDENT GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE
  10. PROGRESSIVE PARTY ELECTS MORE COUNCIL MEMBERS IN BURLINGTON
  11. OREGON GREEN RECEIVES JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT
  12. SPECIAL U.S. HOUSE ELECTIONS
  13. PEACE & FREEDOM PARTY STARTS REGISTRATION DRIVE
  14. ARIZONA LIBERTARIAN PRIMARY
  15. SUBSCRIBING TO BAN WITH PAYPAL

The Nation Magazine Defends Fusion

Posted on by April 24, 2013
Reply

Katrina vanden Heuvel has this article in The Nation, defending fusion. It also misleading says that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo wants to eliminate fusion. However, as one of the commenters points out, Governor Cuomo does not want to end fusion. He just wants to make it possible for any candidate to run in any party’s primary. Thanks to Gene Berkman for the link.