West Virginia Independent Voters Can Vote In Either Major Party Primary

Posted on by April 1, 2008
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West Virginia holds its primary elections on May 13, for president and all other partisan office. This year, for the first time, West Virginia independents can choose to vote in either the Democratic Party primary, or the Republican Party primary. However, polling place officials may not tell independents that they have this choice. Nor will there be any signs at polling places telling independents that they have that choice.

The Mountain Party is also a ballot-qualified party, but it nominates by convention, not primary.

Missouri Senate Committee Hears Testimony on Bill to Move Independent Petition Deadline from July to March

Posted on by April 1, 2008
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On March 31, the Missouri Senate Financial, Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee held a hearing on HB 1310. That bill moves the independent candidate petition deadline from late July to March. It does not exclude presidential independents. For that reason, the bill is clearly unconstitutional under Anderson v Celebrezze, and also McCarthy v Kirkpatrick.

Barbara Woodruff, chair of Show Me Independents, testified against the bill and furnished each Senator with a copy of the U.S. Supreme Court decision Anderson v Celebrezze. The bill’s sponsor did not try to argue that his bill would be upheld. He merely stated that he doesn’t want anyone running against him, and not having to declare a candidacy until July of the election year. The Committee will decide later whether to pass the bill or not.

Helpful Missouri Ballot Access Bill Passes Senate

Posted on by April 1, 2008
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On March 31, SB 797 passed the Missouri Senate unanimously. He removes a typographical error from the 1993 ballot access reform law. The current law was written to let new and previously unqualified parties circulate a petition before they have chosen their nominees. But an error causes that same law to contradict that principle, and say if the party expects to run a presidential candidate, it must name the presidential candidates (and also candidates for presidential elector) on the petition.

Constitution and Independent Parties File For New Mexico Ballot Status

Posted on by April 1, 2008
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On April 1, both the Constitution Party and the Independent Party submitted their petitions to be on the New Mexico ballot. The Independent Party is composed of supporters of Ralph Nader. The Associated Press reported on the Independent Party, but did not mention the Constitution Party, even though both petitions were submitted at approximately the same time.

New Mexico requires 2,794 signatures to qualify a new party. The Independent Party turned in 6,747 signatures, and the Constitution Party turned in approximately 4,700 signatures.

The last time a party did this petition was in 2006, when the Libertarian Party qualified. It took the Secretary of State several months to check the signatures. This time, the Secretary of State’s office says it will be much quicker.

The New Mexico Green and Libertarians are on the ballot automatically in 2008.