Constitution Party Election Board Members, and Republican Members, Block Boulder County, Colorado, from Certifiying Election Results

Posted on by November 28, 2012
3

Three political parties in Colorado enjoy the ability to appoint members to county election boards. The three parties are the Democratic, Republican, and Constitution Parties. The Constitution Party is considered a major party under the law because its gubernatorial nominee in 2010 polled over 10% of the vote. According to this story, in Boulder County, the Constitution and Republican county election board members voted not to certify the county’s results, because they are dissatisfied with some of the procedures used on election day.

Steven Maviglio Analyzes California’s 2012 Top-Two Primary Experience

Posted on by November 28, 2012
14

Steven Maviglio has this commentary about the California 2012 election, including comments about how California’s top-two system worked. Maviglio is a former Press Secretary for former Governor Gray Davis, and a former aide to two members of Congress, and a former member of the Clinton administration. He runs a public affairs-campaign firm called Forza Communications.

Poor Oklahoma Turnout Causes 2014 Petition for New Parties to be Somewhat Easier in 2014 than in 2010

Posted on by November 28, 2012
8

Oklahoma requires a petition signed by 5% of the last vote cast (for the office at the top of the ballot) to get a newly-qualifying party on the ballot. The number of voters voting for President in Oklahoma declined in 2012, compared to 2008. Also, the presidential vote in 2008 was lower in Oklahoma than it had been in 2004. This is somewhat surprising, because Oklahoma is not losing population.

For 2014, the state requires 66,744 signatures. While this is overwhelmingly burdensome, it is easier than the 2010 requirement, which was 73,134.

Perhaps one reason Oklahoma voters have a low turnout in presidential elections is that they aren’t permitted to vote for anyone other than the Democratic and Republican nominees. For the last three elections in a row, no one can vote for President in Oklahoma without voting Democratic or Republican. No other state has a ballot access record in presidential years this bad, since the period 1956-1964.

Indiana Constitution Party Activist May Have Found a Sponsor for a Ballot Access Reform Bill

Posted on by November 28, 2012
9

A Constitution Party activist in Indiana has located a Republican State Senator who may be willing to introduce a bill to ease ballot access. If you wish to work with this activist, his e-mail is ConstitutionalCraig@yahoo.com.

Indiana is one of only two states in which no statewide minor party or independent candidate petition has succeeded, since 2000. It is one of only four states in which Ralph Nader never got on the ballot, even though Nader is the person who placed third in three elections in a row (2000, 2004, and 2008). Indiana has never had an independent candidate on the ballot for Governor or U.S. Senator. It is one of five states in which the Constitution Party has never placed its presidential nominee on the ballot (the others are Arizona, Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Georgia). And yet, Indiana is the only state with bad ballot access that has not even had any bills to improve ballot access introduced during the last decade.