Oklahoma Ballot Access Initiative Tries New Tack

Posted on by November 9, 2007
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Oklahomans for Ballot Access Reform (OBAR), which is sponsoring the initiative petition to ease the Oklahoma ballot access laws, has decided to double the pay of paid circulators, if those paid circulators turn in at least 50 signatures on any particular day. It is hoped that this will speed up the pace of collecting signatures. However, this will also require more money. Please consider sending a donation to OBAR, PO Box 14042, Tulsa Ok 74159. If you have already donated, thank you. A check can be made out to either “OBAR” or “Oklahoma Ballot Access Reform.”

U.S. Justice Department Questions 18 States About Compliance with Federal Voter Registration Law

Posted on by November 9, 2007
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In the first week in November, the Voting Rights Section of the U.S. Justice Department asked 18 states to prove that they are in compliance with the 1993 federal voter registration law. That law is commonly refered to as “Motor Voter.” It requires state and local government welfare offices and Department of Motor Vehicles offices to help register voters. The states are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah and Vermont.

Petitioning is more successful when a large proportion of adult citizens are registered to vote. It is believed that the above-named states have not been following the federal law, partly because federal enforcement has been lax during the last six years. If the Justice Department’s new interest in enforcing “Motor Voter” is successful in increasing the percentage of adult citizens who are registered voters, that will help minor party and independent candidate petitions, and it will also help initiatives.

Heinemann Faction of Reform Party Sues Kennedy Faction in West Virginia Federal Court

Posted on by November 9, 2007
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On November 6, three Reform Party leaders sued certain other Reform Party leaders in federal court in Elkins, West Virginia. The case is Heinemann v Kennedy, 2:07-cv-91. The defendants include Beverly Kennedy and her attorneys. The three plaintiffs are Jerome Heinemann, Skip Foley, and Jeanne Doogs. The lawsuit attacks the defendants for having filed a lawsuit in Texas state courts, after having lost an earlier intra-party fight in federal court in Florida. The West Virginia case is pro se.

Constitution Party Member Wins Non-Partisan Election

Posted on by November 9, 2007
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At least one member of the Constitution Party was elected on November 7, 2007. Scott C. Stevens won a spot on the city council of Warren, Michigan. Warren is Detroit’s largest suburb. The voters were asked to choose 9 at-large members. 18 candidates appeared on the ballot. Stevens’ vote total was 12,519, the 2nd highest. Thanks to Third Party Watch.