The Alaska Division of Elections has verified the petition of Americans Elect to be a qualified party. The procedure Americans Elect used in Alaska is called a limited political party, which means it is ballot-qualified for president and vice-president, but no other offices. This suits Americans Elect, because the group does not desire to run candidates for any office in 2012 except president and vice-president.
Idaho law provides for a presidential primary in May (simultaneous with the primary for other office). However, on July 16, the Republican State Central Committee voted to choose delegates to the national convention by caucus on March 6. Because the Democrats also usually choose delegates by caucus in Idaho, and because the state’s two ballot-qualified minor parties normally don’t use a presidential primary, this means the 2012 presidential primary in Idaho will be completely meaningless. Republicans will discuss with Democrats the idea of a bill early in the 2012 legisiative session to eliminate the presidential primary. Thanks to Josh Putnam of Frontloading HQ for this news.
According to this article, the town of Tar Heel, North Carolina, will elect its Mayor and three town commissioners entirely by write-in vote this year. The filing deadline has passed, and no one filed to be on the ballot for any of the offices. This type of election is fairly common in Pennsylvania and Indiana, but it is rare in North Carolina.
On July 17, Jim Beam, who has been covering Louisiana politics and government for 40 years, wrote a column criticizing Governor Bobby Jindal for vetoing the bill that lets independent candidates use the label “independent”.
On July 15, Maryland elections officials announced that a statewide referendum had qualified for the 2012 ballot. Maryland does not have the statewide initiative process, but it does have procedures for statewide referendums. Proponents need a petition signed by 3% of the registered voters.
The particular referendum that qualified asks the voters if they wish to repeal the “Dream Act”, which lets long-time residents of Maryland receive the in-state tuition rate even if they are illegal aliens. This is the first statewide referendum to qualify in Maryland in 20 years. Proponents make extensive use of the internet. No one could sign the petition electronically, but individuals could download the petition form and circulate it. Thirty percent of all the signatures on the petition were gathered that way.
