On October 7, Ontario held an election for its provincial legislative body. See this story for the results. The Liberal Party won 53 seats, the Conservative Party 37 seats, and the New Democratic Party 17 seats.
Previously, the Liberals had held 70 seats, Conservatives 25, New Democrats 10, and 2 vacancies. Thanks to Sam Harley for the link.
The October 8 Denver Post has this editorial, praising a lower state court for refusing to stop Denver from sending mail ballots to inactive voters, and making suggestions for policy changes.
On October 7, a Colorado lower state court refused the Secretary of State’s request for an injunction to stop Denver election officials from mailing mail ballots to inactive voters. See this story. An “inactive voter” is one who is on the registration rolls, but didn’t vote in 2010 and didn’t respond to a postcard asking if the voter wants a mail ballot.
On October 7, California Governor Jerry Brown vetoed SB 205, which made it a crime to pay registration workers on a per-registration card basis. Because Proposition 14 has left California minor parties with only one means to remain on the ballot, by having registration equal to 1% of the last gubernatorial vote, this veto will help minor parties. The Green, Libertarian, and Peace & Freedom Parties had asked that the bill not be signed. The veto message says, “Voting is at the heart of our democracy. Efforts to register voters should be encouraged, not criminalized.”
Brown also acted on four other election law bills. He signed SB 397, which makes it possible for voters to register to vote on-line. He also signed SB 202, which says that statewide initiatives cannot appear on primary ballots, but must wait for the general election.
He vetoed SB 334, which would put the names of the five biggest spenders on either side of a statewide ballot measure in the state ballot pamphlet. His veto message says the pamphlet printing schedule would exclude spending reported later than 15 weeks before the election, and consequently the pamphlet might give a false impression of who the big spenders are.
He vetoed AB 651, which would require paid petition gathering companies to register with the Secretary of State, make frequent reports, including details about how they train circulators. Thanks to Jack Dean for this news.
On October 1, the Philadelphia National Organization for Women announced that it is endorsing Cheri Honkaka for Sheriff of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. See this. Thanks to GreenPartyWatch for the link.
