Congressional Bill to Require States to Let Independent Voters Vote in Partisan Primaries

Earlier this month, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) introduced the “Let America Vote Act”, HR 9144.  It says states must let independent voters vote in presidential and congressional primaries.  It also says that states that don’t let independent voters vote in primaries for “state and local office” cannot receive federal funding for election administration.

The bill does not define “state or local office”, which leaves an ambiguity as to whether the bill applies to elections for party office.  The bill does not say that it applies only to public office.  About half the states hold publicly-administered elections for party office.

Here is the text. Fitzpatrick was elected to the U.S. House in 2016, and represents a district composed of Philadelphia suburbs.

Georgia Secretary of State Says Three Presidential Petitions Have Enough Valid Signatures

On August 13, the Georgia Secretary of State said three presidential petitions have enough valid signatures:  Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Cornel West, and Claudia De la Cruz.  The requirement is 7,500 signatures.  This is the first time the Georgia Secretary of State has found enough valid signatures for a presidential candidate petition since 2000, when Pat Buchanan succeeded.

The requirement has been 7,500 starting with 2016, but no petitioning candidate succeeded in either 2016 nor 2020.

The Green Party did not petition in Georgia this year because the new law says it may be on the ballot for president automatically, assuming it is on in at least twenty other states or territories that have electoral votes.

The Libertarian Party is on the ballot automatically for all statewide offices because it got enough votes in 2022.

Various groups have filed challenges to all three petitions, for various technical issues that the Secretary of State so far seems not to believe have merit.  Thanks to David Clemons for this news.