Judge Refuses to Put Peta Lindsay on Peace & Freedom Party Presidential Primary Ballot

Posted on by April 26, 2012
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On April 26, U.S. District Court Judge Garland E. Burrell declined to order the California Secretary of State to list Peta Lindsay on the Peace & Freedom Party presidential primary ballot. Here is the 14-page order. However, he said the case is not moot, and the case will remain alive for a fuller development of the issues.

The Secretary of State declined to put Peta Lindsay on the primary ballot because she acknowledges that she is under age 35 (she is 27). However, under a California State Court of Appeals ruling from 2010 (Keyes v Bowen), if the Peace & Freedom Party were to nominate her, the Secretary of State would be obliged to print her name on the November ballot. The order does not discuss that. It differentiates the treatment of Lindsay from the various lawsuits over whether the Secretary of State should investigate whether President Obama is eligible for the presidency by saying that the Obama matter is disputed, whereas the Lindsay matter is not.

This implies that if she had lied about her age, she could have been on the ballot.

Colorado City, Arizona, Retains Ability to its own Police Department

Posted on by April 26, 2012
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Colorado City, Arizona, is a stronghold for an offshoot of the Church of Latter Day Saints that still adheres to polygamy. On April 25, the Arizona House defeated SB 1433, which would have ended the ability of cities to have police departments if at least 50% of the police officers of that city have had their certificates revoked during the last eight years. See this story. The bill had passed the State Senate unanimously. It was an attempt to place law enforcement in Colorado City under the control of the Mohave County Sheriff.

Michigan Statewide Referendum Removed from Statewide Ballot Because Font on Petition was Allegedly Wrong Size

Posted on by April 26, 2012
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On April 26, the Michigan State Board of Canvassers invalidated a statewide referendum petition on the grounds that the title of the measure on the petitions used the wrong font size. The law says it should be in 14 point font. See this story, which says that supporters of the referendum had 140 people in the audience at the Board’s meeting, and these supporters reacted angrily when the decision was made. The Board tied 2-2; a tie keeps the measure off the ballot. Supporters of the referendum had gathered 203,238 signatures. Thanks to Thomas Jones for the link.

It is certain that supporters will challenge the decision in court.

New Mexico Approves Party Status for Green, Constitution, and Independent American Parties

Posted on by April 26, 2012
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On April 26, the New Mexico Secretary of State’s office approved the ballot access petitions filed earlier this month for the Constitution Party, the Green Party, and the Independent American Party.

These parties join the Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, Americans Elect, and Independent Parties. The Independent Party, which has been ballot-qualified since 2008 because it polled over one-half of 1% of the presidential vote in 2008, is about to change its name to the Justice Party. New Mexico permits qualified parties to change their names. The Independent Party had nominated Ralph Nader in 2008.

The Independent American Party is not expected to have a presidential nominee. It was formed primarily to make it easier for a particular independent candidate for U.S. Senate to be on the ballot. New Mexico requires substantially fewer signatures for a new party than for an independent candidate. Thanks to Rick Lass for this news.