November 2012 Ballot Access News Print Edition

Ballot Access News
November 1, 2012 – Volume 28, Number 6

This issue was printed on tan paper.


Table of Contents

  1. BALLOT ACCESS VICTORIES IN CALIFORNIA, PENNSYLVANIA
  2. CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR VETOES HARMFUL BILL
  3. GARY JOHNSON’S NEW IDEA FOR GETTING INTO CPD DEBATES
  4. LAWSUIT NEWS
  5. BOOK REVIEW: INDEPENDENTS RISING
  6. ANOTHER POLITICAL SCIENTIST ANALYZES TOP-TWO PRIMARIES
  7. LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT
  8. NO DEM-REP CONTEST IN 40% OF STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES
  9. CHATTANOOGA NEWSPAPER ENDORSES GARY JOHNSON
  10. GREEN NOMINEES ARRESTED, SHACKLED FOR EIGHT HOURS
  11. AMERICANS ELECT SPENT OVER $11,000,000 ON BALLOT ACCESS IN 2010 AND 2011
  12. INCUMBENT LEGISLATOR TRIES TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION AS A LIBERTARIAN
  13. SUBSCRIBING TO BAN WITH PAYPAL

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

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

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

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.