Hearing in Michigan Case Over Access to Voter List

On November 7, a Michigan state court will hear Grebner v State. This is the interesting lawsuit over whether Michigan’s presidential primary law is constitutional. The law provides that voters cannot vote in either major party presidential primary unless they sign in as either a Democrat or as a Republican. The law further provides that the contact information for these voters will be given to the appropriate major party, but that the information is otherwise secret. The plaintiff argues that such lists cannot be kept secret. Thanks to Tony Roza for this news.

November 6, 2007 Election Returns

See http://thirdpartywatch.com for a good summary of how various minor party candidates did in the November 6, 2007 election.

In Kentucky, Republican Secretary of State Trey Grayson was re-elected. Grayson wants to eliminate the straight-ticket device, while Grayson’s Democratic opponent supports it.

Two of the three independents in the Virginia House of Delegates, Lacey Putney and Watkins Abbitt, were re-elected. The third independent, Katherine Waddell, was defeated.

Illinois Democratic, Green Presidential Primary Filing Deadline is Today

The Illinois presidential primary is on February 5. November 5 is the petition deadline for candidates running in the Democratic presidential primary, and it is also the deadline for candidates running in the Green presidential primary. The Republican presidential primary deadline is December 5.

All presidential primary candidates in Illinois need 3,000 signatures on a petition. The Board will accept petitions with fewer signatures, and treat them as valid, but they are vulnerable to challenge. Traditionally, no one in Illinois challenges presidential primary petitions, even if they are obviously below the requirement.

Filing closes at 5 p.m. Illinois time. As of noon, no Green presidential primary petitions had been turned in, and only 4 Democratic presidential primary petitions had been turned in: Clinton, Edwards, Obama and Richardson. UPDATE: additional filings were made by Democrats Kucinich, Dodd and Biden.

Also, 4 Greens filed: Cynthia McKinney, Kent Mesplay, Jared Ball and Howie Hawkins. Hawkins is believed to be a stand-in for Ralph Nader.

Rhode Island Governor Vetoes February Presidential Primary Bill

On Sunday, November 4, Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri, a Republican, vetoed SB 1152. That bill moved the presidential primary from March to February. The Governor said he vetoed it because elections administrators had said changing the date of the primary at this late date would create great difficulties. He said in his veto message that he would have signed it if it had been sent to him earlier this year. Thanks to Tony Roza for this news.