In 2001, a New Jersey State Court ruled that it is unconstitutional for the state to let voters register as members of the qualified parties, but not to let them register into unqualified parties that regularly place candidates on the ballot.

As a result of that lawsuit, New Jersey added the five parties that brought that lawsuit to the voter registration form. They were the Libertarian, Green, Constitution, Natural Law, and Reform Parties.

In 2006 the Conservative Party of New Jersey sued to also get on the voter registration form. The state did not contest the lawsuit, and finally this month added that party to the form.

If the state were rational, it would either pass a law, or some regulations, setting forth objective criteria for a party to be placed on the form. However, seven years after the initial court decision, New Jersey still has no such law or regulations. This leaves the state open to future potential lawsuits by parties such as the Socialist Party, which also regularly place nominees on the ballot.

The Conservative Party of New Jersey holds its statewide convention on April 5 in Manalapan (in Monmouth County), and expects to nominate some candidates for Congress and perhaps local partisan office.

Mike Gravel’s campaign announced today that we would seek the Libertarian Party nomination for President.

This comes one day after Gravel announced that he is joining the LP.

On March 25, the Hawaii House Judiciary Committee passed the National Popular Vote Plan bill by 12-2. It is SB 2898. It passed the Senate last month. It now goes to the House.

Although the Hawaii legislature passed the National Popular Vote Plan bill in 2007, Governor Linda Lingle vetoed it. However, her veto would have been overridden except that some representatives had gone home early (since the legislature was in the process of adjourning), before voting on the veto override. This year, it is somewhat likely that Governor Lingle will veto it again, and that her veto will then be overridden.