Supporters of a presidential primary for Michigan had been hoping the legislature would work on legislation saving the state’s presidential primary, starting on November 13. However, the legislature decided not to come into session that day. Thanks to Thomas Jones for this news.
Supporters of a presidential primary for Michigan had been hoping the legislature would work on legislation saving the state’s presidential primary, starting on November 13. However, the legislature decided not to come into session that day. Thanks to Thomas Jones for this news.
On November 10, the New Mexico Green Party received a letter from the Secretary of State, saying the party is ballot-qualified for 2008. The law has been interpreted different ways during the eighteen years it has existed. Unfortunately, the letter doesn’t give a comprehensive explanation for the decision. It just says that since the party was already told it should be ballot-qualified for 2008, that the office will honor that commitment.
Jefferson County, Kentucky, complaints that it must spend $5,000 to count the write-ins in a race that only encompasses county voters. See this November 12 article in the Louisville Courier-Journal.
It is true that it costs elections administrators more money to count write-in votes, than to count votes for candidates listed on the ballot. That is just one more reason why it is rational for states to have tolerant ballot access laws.
On November 12, Michigan’s largest newspaper, the Detroit Free Press, carried this editorial in favor of Michigan having presidential primaries instead of caucuses. The Michigan legislature will consider the matter on November 13 and the remainder of this week. The editorial didn’t weigh in on when the Michigan primary should be held.
Although states have been shifting their major party presidential procedures for twenty years, this year is extraordinary for the last-minute changes. No one yet knows whether Michigan will have presidential primaries or caucuses. No one yet knows the date of the New Hampshire presidential primaries. No one yet knows the date of the Massachusetts presidential primaries.
