Arizona Top-Two Initiative May Not Have Enough Valid Signatures

Posted on by August 22, 2012
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The Arizona Secretary of State’s office has not yet said how many valid signatures were submitted by proponents of a top-two open primary. However, preliminary data from most of the counties suggest that there may not be enough. Also, apparently some of the petitions were gathered by circulators who don’t live in Arizona and who did not register with the Secretary of State. Arizona permits out-of-state circulators, but requires that out-of-state circulators register with the Secretary of State before working. See this story. Also see this story.

U.S. District Court Judge in Nevada Says State Law on “None of These Candidates” is Unconstitutional

Posted on by August 22, 2012
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A U.S. District Court in Nevada has ruled against the state law that provides “None of these candidates” to be printed on ballots for statewide office. See this story.

Presumably Nevada could amend the law and make it constitutional, by providing that if “None of these candidates” wins the most votes, then every candidate whose name had been on the ballot is defeated. Nevada is one of five states that bans all write-in votes. Nevada sometimes says that write-ins are not needed in that state because of the “None” alternative.

Judge Robert C. Jones has not yet put out anything in writing, but said he expects to do that very soon. The case is Townley v State of Nevada, 3:12-cv-310.

Minnesota May Have Eleven Presidential Candidates on the Ballot This Year

Posted on by August 22, 2012
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Nine presidential petitions have been submitted to the Minnesota Secretary of State. If they are all valid, then Minnesota will have eleven presidential candidates on the November ballot. In Minnesota, as in half the states, independent candidates are free to choose a partisan label other than just the word “independent.”

The petitions are for the presidential nominees of these parties: Constitution, Grassroots, Green, Justice, Libertarian, Party for Socialism and Liberation, Socialist, and Socialist Workers. Also one independent presidential candidate. Dean Morstad, filed.

Minnesota had eleven presidential candidates on the November 1996 ballot. Thanks to Jim Ivey for this news.

Forest Park Review Newspaper Story Gives Details of Presidential Candidate Challenges Last Month in Illinois

Posted on by August 22, 2012
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Although there is no new news in this newspaper story, the story is the most comprehensive account yet published about the Illinois ballot access challenges involving the general election presidential ballot in 2012. The reporter interviewed the Socialist Party activist in Forest Park who tried to get the Socialist Party on the ballot, and the reporter also interviewed the two individuals responsible for defeating that attempt.

USA Today Carries Op-Ed, Advocating More Inclusive General Election Presidential Debates

Posted on by August 22, 2012
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Terry Michael has this op-ed in USA Today, advocating that the general election presidential debates include all candidates who could theoretically be elected. The column assumes that this would involve a four-way debate, but it is not yet determined whether five candidates or four candidates will be on the ballot in states containing a majority of electoral votes.