On September 1, a televised gubernatorial debate was held in Arizona. The nominees of the Democratic, Green, Libertarian and Republican Parties, all participated. See this story. Thanks to Independent Political Report for the link. Those four candidates are the only four candidates on the November ballot.
The national Libertarian Party has ordered 700,000 door-hangers for this year’s election campaigns. They only cost 2.5 cents each. They say, “Bring Our Troops Home from Iraq and Afghanistan.” The party is counting on its 800 nominees and the campaign committees for those nominees to distribute them.
Wyoming held primaries on August 17. No candidates filed to appear on the Democratic Primary ballot for either Auditor or Treasurer. But Wyoming Democratic voters nominated Keith Goodenough for Auditor, and Worth Christie for Treasurer, via write-in votes. The state law requires a write-in candidate in a primary to outpoll all opponents, and in addition to poll at least 25 write-in votes. Goodenough received 31 write-ins, and Christie received 30 write-ins, so they were nominated.
But, they both have told the Secretary of State that they do not accept their nominations. Wyoming does not require write-in candidates to file a declaration of write-in candidacy before any primary or election in order to have their write-ins counted. However, the write-ins are not canvassed unless someone asks for a tally no later than two days after the primary or election. See this story. Thanks to Mike Fellows for the link.
On September 1, U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith upheld Rhode Island’s straight-ticket devices. See this story. Two cases, each filed by an independent candidate, were before the judge. They were Lusi v Mollis, and Healy v State.
A straight-ticket device makes it possible for a voter to vote for all the nominees of one particular party, by making a single mark on a ballot. Independent candidates never have a straight-ticket device of their own.
The West Virginia Constitution Party petition for U.S. Senate has enough valid signatures, so the party’s U.S. Senate nominee, Jeff Becker, will appear on the November ballot.
The New York Libertarian Party statewide petition also succeeded. Although someone filed a general challenge to that petition, the challenger did not subsequently follow through with specific objections.
