The Tennessee Libertarian, Constitution and Green Parties filed a lawsuit against that state’s ballot access laws for minor parties back in January 2008. The suit has been snarled in procedural delays for some time, but now meaningful conversations between attorneys for both sides are taking place, with progress expected toward resolution.
On August 3, the Conservative Party in the British district of Totnes announced the results of its mail ballot open primary to select the party’s nominee for House of Commons in that district. Three candidates ran. Sarah Wollaston received 7,914; Sara Randall Johnson received 5,495; Nick Bye received 3,088.
This is the first time any British political party has used a mail ballot to all voters in the district to choose its nominee. The process cost the party 40,000 pounds. Other political parties have complained that only the Conservative Party could afford such a process. UPDATE: see this opinion piece by a Liberal Democrat activist.
The party leadership approved the nomination of each of the three candidates. Information about each of the three of them was included in the postal ballot mailing.
The Los Angeles Times of August 4 has this op-ed, advocating that the number of California state legislators be doubled. The author is Ryan Coonerty, a member of the Santa Cruz city council, an author, and a lecturer in constitutional law. Thanks to ElectionLawBlog for the link.
California State Senators represent more than 800,000 people, and California Assembly members represent over 400,000. Coonerty also advocates that the salaries of California legislators be cut in half.
On August 3, the founder of the California Moderate Party, Ash Roughani, announced that the party will not attempt to qualify for the 2010 ballot, although suggesting that it might make the attempt for 2012.
On August 3, the founder of the California Moderate Party, Ash Roughani, announced that the party will not attempt to qualify for the 2010 ballot, although suggesting that it might make the attempt for 2012.
