| Page 4668

Associated Press Article on San Francisco’s Instant Runoff Voting Election of November 8, 2011

Posted on October 23, 2011 by adminOctober 23, 2011

There are many articles about Instant Runoff Voting, but this Associated Press article of October 23 is more comprehensive than most. San Francisco political consultants tend to oppose Instant Runoff Voting, because their traditional methods of campaigning – attacking the opponents of the client – doesn’t work very well when Instant Runoff Voting is used. Political consultants and some of their allies will try to repeal San Francisco’s Instant Runoff Voting next year. The AP story does not mention that. Thanks to Rob Richie for the link.

Louisiana Election Returns

Posted on October 22, 2011 by adminOctober 22, 2011

The Louisiana Secretary of State’s web page has election returns for the state election of October 22 here. Scott Lewis, the Libertarian candidate for Governor, polled 1.22% in a race with ten candidates. Although that is not especially noteworthy, it is far better than the only other instance when the Libertarian Party ran a candidate for Governor. That other time was in 2007, when the party’s candidate only polled .20%.

In the October 22, 2011 election, the Reform Party candidate for Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner, Belinda Alexandrenko, polled 5.69% in a race against a Republican and a Democrat. The Secretary of State’s web page has her listed with “(R)” after her name, but on the ballot she was on as a Reform Party candidate.

Ninth Circuit Hears Oral Argument in Washington State Top-Two Case on November 29

Posted on October 22, 2011 by adminOctober 22, 2011

The Ninth Circuit will hear Washington State Republican Party v Washington State Grange on November 29 at 10 a.m., in Pasadena, California. This is the same lawsuit originally filed in 2005, by the Republican, Democratic, and Libertarian Parties of Washington state. Thanks to Thomas Jones for this news.

Nevada GOP Moves Caucus from January 14 to February 4

Posted on October 22, 2011 by adminOctober 22, 2011

As expected, on October 22, the Nevada Republican Party moved its caucuses from January 14 to February 4. This clears the way for New Hampshire to set its presidential primary on January 10.

The entire rationale for the two major parties to single out four particular states and let them go first has always been weak. But one of the rationales was the all four regions of the nation were represented by the four favored states, which were supposed to be Iowa for the Midwest, New Hampshire for the East, South Carolina for the South, and Nevada for the West. But, for 2012, it doesn’t work out that way. Nevada will be fifth, behind the three other favored states and also behind Florida.

The western states have long been disadvantaged in presidential politics. The Democratic Party has never nominated anyone either for President or for Vice-President who was from one of the thirteen western states.

Ohio Bill for Two Primary Dates Signed Into Law

Posted on October 22, 2011 by adminOctober 22, 2011

On the evening of October 21, the Ohio House passed HB 318-substitute, and Governor John Kasich signed it into law. As a result, Ohio will hold a March primary for U.S. Senate, state legislature, and county partisan office. Also, it will hold a June 12 primary for President and U.S. House.

A little-noticed aspect of the bill also slightly eases presidential primary ballot access. The old law put presidential primary candidates who had qualified for primary season matching funds on the ballot automatically. The new law puts presidential primary candidates on the ballot automatically if they show that they have raised at least $5,000 from each of 20 states. Those qualifications match the existing federal requirements for getting primary season matching funds. This change was made to accomodate presidential primary candidates who choose not to file for primary season matching funds.

In 2008, John McCain had been put on the Ohio Republican presidential primary ballot automatically, because he had applied for federal matching funds. But then, after the FEC had ruled that he was entitled to the funds, McCain said he didn’t want them. Presidential candidates sometimes reject primary season matching funds because candidates who receive them are limited in how much they can spend. Some critics then argued that McCain should not have been permitted to be on the Ohio presidential primary ballot because, by rejecting the funds, he hadn’t truly qualified for them. The situation was ambiguous, and McCain was left on the ballot. But the new law will avoid such situations in the future. Thanks to Frontloading HQ for the news about HB 318 being signed into law.

The effect of this new law is that the statutory petition deadline for new parties remains in November 2011, the same deadline that was held unconstitutional by the 6th circuit in 2006.