Annual COFOE Meeting Minutes Now Posted to COFOE Web Page

Posted on by June 12, 2011
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The Coalition for Free & Open Elections holds an annual meeting every spring. The minutes of the March 27, 2011 meeting are now posted at COFOE’s web page, www.cofoe.org.

COFOE was formed in 1985. It works to ease the legal environment for minor parties and independent candidates. Most of the nation’s nationally-organized minor parties, as well as certain other organizations, are members. Each organization member is entitled to a representative on the COFOE Board. In recent years, COFOE uses its income to help pay for lawsuits that improve ballot access laws for independent candidates. One of the most successful COFOE-financed lawsuits was Lee v Keith, in which the 7th circuit struck down Illinois’ ballot access laws for independent candidates for the legislature. Thanks to Kevin Murphy, COFOE’s webmaster, for this news.

Three Minor Parties Enter Candidates in 2011 Mississippi Legislative Races

Posted on by June 12, 2011
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Mississippi elects all of its state legislators in the odd years before presidential elections. All legislators have 4-year terms. In the 2011 election, the Libertarian, Reform, and Constitution Parties have candidates for the legislature. The Libertarians are: Harold M. Taylor, Sean Holmes, Jan “Jay” Butler, and Donna Knezevich (all are running for State House). The Reform Party candidates are Lajena Williams, Yasming Johnson (each running for State Senate), and Randy Walker (for State House). The Constitution Party candidate is James Overstreet (for State Senate).

The Libertarian Party has never before had any nominees for the Mississippi State House, although it had one for Mississippi State Senate in 1995. The Reform Party has never before had any nominees for the Mississippi legislature. The Constitution Party had eight nominees for the Mississippi legislature in 2007.

Mississippi is also electing its state executive positions this year. The Reform Party is the only minor party that has any statewide nominees. There is also one independent running for Governor. There are twelve independent candidates for the legislature this year.

Socialist Workers Party Attacks President Obama’s Executive Order on Disclosure of Political Contributions for Government Contractors

Posted on by June 12, 2011
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The June 6 issue of The Militant, weekly newspaper of the Socialist Workers Party, has this editorial criticizing President Obama’s new executive order that requires government contractors to reveal extension information about their political donations and other political activity. For forty years, the Socialist Workers Party has been the most consistent voice on the left in opposition to campaign finance disclosure requirements.

Lawsuit Against California Election Law that Won’t Let Groups Sponsor Initiatives

Posted on by June 11, 2011
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California election laws governing initiatives provide that only an individual may file a notice of intent to circulate an initiative petition. On April 28, 2009, a local group in San Diego County filed a federal lawsuit, arguing that the California law must also permit groups to sponsor initiatives. See the complaint here. The case is Chula Vista Citizens for Jobs and Fair Competition v Norris, U.S. District Court, southern district, 09-cv-897. The case had been on hold for a year, but now briefs in the case are being filed.