Harry Kresky, Long-Time Ballot Access Attorney, Dies at the Age of 79

Posted on by March 14, 2024
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On March 11, Harry Kresky died at the age of 79. He was a long-time ballot access attorney and a leading member of the New Alliance Party, which existed from 1982 until 1994. He was also a Board Member of the Coalition for Free & Open Elections (COFOE), representing Independent Voting, a successor organization to the New Alliance Party.

Kresky and his fellow New Alliance Party colleague Gary Sinawski helped the New Alliance Party places its presidential nominee, Lenora Fulani, on the ballot of all 50 states in 1988. In 2004, Kresky was a ballot access attorney for Ralph Nader, when Nader’s ballot position was challenged in two dozen states.

Kresky is the second board member of COFOE to die this month; the first was Jim Hedges of the Prohibition Party.

Idaho Senate Passes Bill to Reinstate Presidential Primaries

Posted on by March 14, 2024
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On March 12, the Idaho Senate passed SB 1415, the bill to reinstate presidential primaries in Idaho. The bill would set them in May, and if the bill continues to advance quickly, it could take effect this year. Idaho gives all qualified parties a presidential primary. The Idaho Libertarian and Constitution Parties would probably participate.

Oklahoma House Passes Bill to Require Background Checks on Anyone Who Circulates an Initiative Petition

Posted on by March 14, 2024
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On March 13, the Oklahoma House passed HB 1105. As introduced, it required sponsors of an initiative to pay a fee of $1,000 before starting the petition drive, although the money would be refunded if the initiative qualified. On the floor, the bill was amended to also provide that anyone who circulates the petition must have a “criminal history investigation performed by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.” If a petitioner were found to have a history of conviction, that would not prevent him or her from circulating the petition, but the record would be in a public file maintained by the Secretary of State. Thanks to D. Frank Robinson for this news.

Democratic National Committee Sets Up a Group to Attack the Ballot Access of Independent and Minor Party Presidential Candidates

Posted on by March 14, 2024
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This story says that the Democratic National Committee has set up a group to attack the ballot access filings of various independent and minor party presidential candidates. The Democratic Committee members don’t seem to understand that this type of activity comes to public attention, and it makes a certain share of voters develop feelings of hostility toward the Democratic Party.

The article says some Democratic leaders blame Jill Stein for their loss in the 2016 election, even though the exit polls show that Jill Stein did not cost the Democrats any state in the electoral college.

Democratic leaders also seem oblivious to social science and polling research that shows sometimes Democratic nominees benefit from the existence of “left” candidates running outside the two major parties.