Ballot Access News
December 1, 2012 – Volume 28, Number 7
| This issue was printed on white paper. |
Table of Contents
The Independence Party of New York cross-endorsed 99 Republican nominees for U.S. House and state legislature in 2012. It only cross-endorsed 46 Democratic nominees. It only had 6 nominees for U.S. House and legislature combined who weren’t major party nominees.
This is in contrast to the Independence Party’s behavior in 1996, when it was the New York state unit of the Reform Party and nominated Ross Perot for President. In 1996, for U.S. House and legislature together, it cross-endorsed 57 Democrats, and 39 Republicans, and had 47 nominees who weren’t major party nominees.
In 2012, the Independence Party did cross-endorse the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, but that was not a close race. By contrast, many New York legislative races, and a few U.S. House races, were very close, so the Independence Party nomination in those close races was important. The Independence Party ran no presidential nominee in 2012.
On February 27, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court will hold an oral argument in Shelby County, Alabama v Holder, 12-96. This is the case that argues Section 5 of the federal Voting Rights Act is unconstitutional. Section five is the part of the act that requires certain states, and certain governmental units within states, to get permission from the U.S. Justice Department before changing any election laws or practices.
Section Five has been upheld several times in the past by the U.S. Supreme Court, but opponents of Section Five argue that it is now obsolete. Recently, many amicus curiae briefs have been filed by opponents of Section Five, including the states of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Texas. See this web page, which lists all the amicus curiae briefs filed against Section Five. It is very likely that many amicus curiae briefs in support of Section Five will be filed in the next few weeks. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.
On January 3, supporters of the initiative process in Washington state submitted 345,000 signatures on their initiative that would itself make it easier to petition for future initiatives. The requirement is 241,153 valid signatures. The initiative would outlaw harassment of petitioners, and would expand the time for circulating statewide initiatives from 6 months to one year. See this story.
Three South Carolina State Senators have introduced SB 2, which would require all candidates for state and local office to file electronic statements of interest. Existing law requires electronic filing only for candidates who are not already public officials. During 2012, 250 candidates who were not already public officials were kept off primary ballots for failure to file electronically. The vast majority of these candidates had filed via paper and had not been informed that they had to file both paper forms and electronic forms.
The sponsors are Chip Campsen (R-Charleston), Larry Martin (R-Pickens) and Ronnie Cromer (R-Prosperity). The bill has already been sent to a Subcommittee.
