Maine Legislature Passes Bill Ending Election-Day Voter Registration

Posted on by June 14, 2011
4

On June 10, the Maine legislature passed LD 1376, which ends Maine’s election-day registration procedure. Maine has had election-day registration since 1973 and has been one of eight states with that policy. It is believed that Maine is the first state that ever had election-day registration to repeal it. Governor Paul LePage has already said he will sign LD 1376.

Earlier this year, the Montana legislature also repealed election-day registration, but Governor Brian Schweitzer vetoed that bill.

It is possible a referendum petition will be launched in Maine to ask the voters if they wish to keep election-day registration. The Democratic Party and its allied interest groups probably have the capability to obtain the needed signatures.

Minor Parties Run More Legislative Candidates in New Jersey This Year Than in 2009

Posted on by June 14, 2011
6

New Jersey elects its state legislators in odd years. This year, New Jersey’s active minor parties have more candidates for the Assembly (the lower house) than they did two years ago. Libertarians have candidates in four districts this year, whereas the party only had candidates in a single Assembly district in 2009. The Green Party has candidates is two districts this year, compared to only one in 2009. The Constitution Party has two candidates in one Assembly district this year, compared to no legislative candidates at all in 2009.

There are 9 independent candidates for the Assembly.

The State Senate races weren’t up in 2009. The only minor party running for a State Senate seat this year is the Constitution Party. There are 9 independent candidates for the State Senate this year.

No Socialist Party or Socialist Workers Party candidates are on the ballot in New Jersey legislative races this year, although neither party had any legislative candidates on the ballot in 2009 either. The Conservative Party of New Jersey likewise has no candidates, and appears not to exist any longer.

New York Releases Official Vote from Special U.S. House Election of May 24, 2011

Posted on by June 14, 2011
9

New York State held a special U.S. House election on May 24, 2011, to fill the vacant 26th district seat. The official results by party: Democratic 42.77%; Republican 32.15%; Tea Party 9.03%; Conservative 8.18%; Working Families 4.67%; Independence 2.14%; Green 1.06%.

In November 2010, the results in this same seat had been: Republican 58.99%; Democratic 26.39%; Conservative 9.41%; Independence 5.21%.

In the May 2011 election, the Conservative and Independence Parties had cross-endorsed the Republican nominee; the Working Families Party had cross-endorsed the Democratic nominee; and the Tea Party and the Green Party had each run their own nominee. The Tea Party nominee was Jack Davis and the Green Party nominee was Ian L. Murphy. The winning Democrat was Kathy Hochul and the Republican nominee was Jane Corwin.

Maine Bill, Easing Organizational Requirements for Parties, is Signed Into Law

Posted on by June 13, 2011
1

On June 6, Maine Governor Paul LePage signed LD 142 into law. This is the bill that eases the requirement that qualified parties must hold a town caucus in at least one town, in every county of the state, in the spring of even-numbered years. The law now says such meetings are required in any 14 of the state’s 16 counties. The Green Party had requested this relief.

Delaware Bill Signed, Forbidding Parties from Nominating Non-Members

Posted on by June 13, 2011
3

On May 31, Delaware Governor Jack Markell signed HB 11, which tells political parties that they are not permitted to nominate anyone who is not a member of the party. Delaware is the second state this year to pass such a law; Florida is the other such state. State legislators in both states ignored the U.S. Supreme Court’s statement in Tashjian v Republican Party of Connecticut that states may not forbid parties from nominating non-members.