Libertarian-Green North Carolina Ballot Access Lawsuit has Hearing

Posted on by January 10, 2008
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A North Carolina Superior Court in Raleigh has scheduled a hearing in Libertarian Party of North Carolina v State Board of Elections for January 30, Wednesday, at 9 am. This case, which includes the Green Party, was filed in 2005 to challenge the ballot access laws for new and previously unqualified parties. The case number is 05-cvs-13073. It will be held in Room 10D of the Wake County Courts Building.

North Carolina requires more signatures for a new party to get on the 2008 ballot than any other state except California. It requires 69,734 signatures, more than even Texas and Oklahoma. The Libertarian Party does now have more than 90,000 signatures, and expects to qualify regardless of how the lawsuit is resolved; but the Green Party and other parties certainly won’t be on the ballot unless this case is won. The lawsuit also challenges the inability of voters to register as members of unqualified parties, an issue which was lost in federal court in North Carolina in 1994, but which has won in New York, New Jersey, Colorado, Iowa, and to a limited extent in Oklahoma.

U.S. Supreme Court Oral Argument on Indiana Voter ID Case

Posted on by January 9, 2008
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On January 9, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in the Indiana government picture photo-ID case for voters who want to vote at the polls. Here is an eye-witness description of the argument by Professor Ned Foley. UPDATE: Here is the transcript.

It seems somewhat likely that the eventual opinion will say that this case should be brought as an “as-allied” case in the future, on behalf of a particular voter who has been injured. The current case argues that the Indiana law is unconstitutional on its face. The analogy would be to the fairly recent decisions on the McCain-Feingold law and its provisions on TV and radio advertising. First the court upheld the law on its face, but then in a later case, struck down part of that law.

John Edwards Answers the “Rock the Debates” Question

Posted on by January 8, 2008
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On January 2, John Edwards responded to the “Rock the Debates” question. Larry Reinsch asked Edwards if he would agree to an inclusive general election presidential debate if he were the Democratic nominee. “Inclusive presidential debate” means that everyone who was on the ballot in states containing a majority of electoral votes would be invited. In all U.S. history, there has never been an election with more than 7 such candidates (including the major party candidates).

Edwards said, “No. Because I think that it depends on first of all, it depends on how serious a candidate they are. I don’t know if you’re aware of this…there are hundreds of people running for President right now.”

Larry Reinsch said, “Only five. Only five on the ballot usually.”

Edwards then said, “But, let me finish responding. I think the problem is this. This has nothing to do with excluding people, it has to do with a very practical issue. You remember Ross Perot participated in the debates when he was an Independent candidate for President. I think as long as you have a legitimate chance, yes. But what you can’t do is flood the state with 15 or 20 people…I’d like to see the debates expanded, and candidates who are not Democrats or Republicans, if they are strong and viable, and they actually have some chance, yeah, I’d be open to that possibility. I’m not open to the possibility of bringing 15 or 20 people up to the stage, because I think it dilutes the substance of the discussion.”

Reinsch then again said, “It would only be five.”

The exchange appears to show that Edwards didn’t listen to Reinsch’s point. For a list of all the presidential candidates who were on the ballot in states containing a majority of electoral votes, see the chart in the printed July 1, 2007 Ballot Access News. Once more, congratulations to Larry Reinsch, an Iowa resident who has asked “the question” to most of the leading major party presidential candidates this year. To see the earlier responses of other major party presidential candidates, see www.rockthedebates.org. Edwards’ response isn’t posted yet, but it will be soon.

John Edwards Answers the "Rock the Debates" Question

Posted on by January 8, 2008
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On January 2, John Edwards responded to the “Rock the Debates” question. Larry Reinsch asked Edwards if he would agree to an inclusive general election presidential debate if he were the Democratic nominee. “Inclusive presidential debate” means that everyone who was on the ballot in states containing a majority of electoral votes would be invited. In all U.S. history, there has never been an election with more than 7 such candidates (including the major party candidates).

Edwards said, “No. Because I think that it depends on first of all, it depends on how serious a candidate they are. I don’t know if you’re aware of this…there are hundreds of people running for President right now.”

Larry Reinsch said, “Only five. Only five on the ballot usually.”

Edwards then said, “But, let me finish responding. I think the problem is this. This has nothing to do with excluding people, it has to do with a very practical issue. You remember Ross Perot participated in the debates when he was an Independent candidate for President. I think as long as you have a legitimate chance, yes. But what you can’t do is flood the state with 15 or 20 people…I’d like to see the debates expanded, and candidates who are not Democrats or Republicans, if they are strong and viable, and they actually have some chance, yeah, I’d be open to that possibility. I’m not open to the possibility of bringing 15 or 20 people up to the stage, because I think it dilutes the substance of the discussion.”

Reinsch then again said, “It would only be five.”

The exchange appears to show that Edwards didn’t listen to Reinsch’s point. For a list of all the presidential candidates who were on the ballot in states containing a majority of electoral votes, see the chart in the printed July 1, 2007 Ballot Access News. Once more, congratulations to Larry Reinsch, an Iowa resident who has asked “the question” to most of the leading major party presidential candidates this year. To see the earlier responses of other major party presidential candidates, see www.rockthedebates.org. Edwards’ response isn’t posted yet, but it will be soon.