Cindy Sheehan Certified for Ballot as Independent Against Pelosi

Posted on by August 11, 2008
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San Francisco election officials today certified Cindy Sheehan for the November ballot against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. She had to get 10,198 signatures. Officials said she turned in 214 more than she needed.

Sheehan is the first independent House candidate to qualify for the California ballot since 1996. California’s requirement for independent candidates for U.S. House is the 4th most difficult in the nation (only Georgia, Illinois, and North Carolina have more severe requirements). She has the endorsement of the local Peace and Freedom Party and Green Party.

9th Circuit Upholds Veterans Administration Ban on Parties Registering Voters

Posted on by August 9, 2008
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On August 8, the 9th circuit ruled 3-0 that the Veterans Administration is not violating the U.S. Constitution when it refuses to let political party representatives register voters inside VA hospitals and care facilities. Preminger v Peake, 08-15714. The decision depends on the fact that VA facilities are nonpublic fora. The particular VA hospital in question, in Palo Alto, California, permits non-partisan groups such as the League of Women Voters to enter in order to register voters. One of the plaintiffs in this lawsuit might have been able to continue registering voters (because he had been admitted) but he was told to leave because he was wearing a “Kerry for President” button (this case originated in 2004).

West Virginia: Barr Falls Short, but Will Continue Gathering Signatures to Support Court Challenge

Posted on by August 9, 2008
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According to the West Virginia Secretary of State, petitions for Libertarian Party candidate Bob Barr fell short. He turned in 13,036 of the 15,118 required by state law.

The Barr campaign website says a lawsuit will be filed on Tuesday and they will continue to collect signatures to exceed 20,000. The basis of the lawsuit will in Anderson v. Celebrezze. The LP objects to the “arbitrary date” established by state law for having petition drives completed. Republicans don’t have to officially file until their convention ends in September, so there’s no compelling reason to have independents submit signatures sooner. The Secretary of State’s spokesperson said it was unclear if county clerks will continue to verify signatures on Barr petitions.

Independent Ralph Nader has been certified for the ballot in West Virginia, and Constitution Party nominee Chuck Baldwin submitted 21,704 signatures, which should be sufficient. Cynthia McKinney is on the ballot under the Mountain Party, which has affiliated with the Green Party nationally.

La Riva Presidential Campaign Maintains Ballot Access Goals

Posted on by August 8, 2008
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Although the ballot access chart does not have room for the parties that are qualifying for the ballot in fewer than half the states, the progress of these parties will be reported when information is available. The Party for Socialism and Liberation set a goal of placing its presidential candidate on the ballot in 12 states. The party is now confirmed on the ballot in 8 of them: Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, New Jersey, Utah, Vermont, and Washington. It is working on Louisiana, New York, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.

California Public Funding Bill Amended to be Funded with Tax Check-Off

Posted on by August 8, 2008
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On August 8, the California Senate Appropriations Committee passed AB 583, which establishes a pilot project of public funding, but only for the Secretary of State’s race in the year 2014. The bill was amended to be funded by voluntary state income-tax checkoffs. The money raised will be added to the taxpayer’s tax bill.

The taxpayer funding only puts money in the fund, and does not relate to which candidate should get public funding. The bill still discriminates against independent candidates, by requiring them to get twice as many qualifying contributions (15,000) as are required for major party nominees.