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Youngstown Independent Candidates Removed from Ballot Because they Voted in Primaries

Posted on August 7, 2007 by Richard WingerAugust 7, 2007

Last month, independent candidates for Youngstown, Ohio city council were removed from the ballot, because the Secretary of State ruled that individuals who voted in a partisan primary can’t be independent candidates. The Ohio election law does not say independent candidates must not have voted in the primary. However, last year an independent candidate for U.S. House was removed from the Ohio ballot, and his federal lawsuit to get back on the ballot lost. At least one Youngstown candidate has filed a new lawsuit. Thanks to Nancy Ross for this news.

Indiana Asks U.S. Supreme Court Not to Hear Photo-ID Case

Posted on August 7, 2007 by Richard WingerAugust 7, 2007

On August 6, Indiana’s Attorney General filed a 29-page brief with the U.S. Supreme Court, asking that Court not to hear the Democratic Party’s appeal in the photo I.D. case.

The brief is unusually long for a request that the Court not hear a case. On the one hand, the brief belittles the importance of this case. Yet, a few pages later, it seems to acknowledge that the issue of government-issued photo-ID requirements for voters is very significant. The brief suggests that it would be dangerous for the Court to hear the case this year, becaues it would create lots of litigation in other states that might disrupt next year’s election.

Democratic National Committee Will Consider Florida Exemption

Posted on August 7, 2007 by Richard WingerAugust 7, 2007

On August 25, the Democratic National Committee will consider whether to grant an exemption to the Florida Democratic Party, to let it keep its full slate of delegates even if the Florida presidential primary is held on January 29.

The Florida Republican Party is also at risk of losing half of its delegation to the national Republican Party. The Florida Republican Party meets in Orlando August 11-12 to finalize its delegate plan. On August 6, Florida Republican state chair Jim Greer said “I will fight tooth and nail to make sure Florida gets its full slate of delegates. I intend to take our full slate of delegates to the convention, and I will let the Republican National Committee tell them they can’t be seated.”

The nation’s presidential primary system is still unsettled, with bills pending in Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania to alter presidential primary procedures or dates.

California Voting Machine Problems Likely to Boost Absentee Voting

Posted on August 7, 2007 by Richard WingerAugust 7, 2007

On August 7, San Diego County, California, said it will send postcards to most registered voters who don’t already vote absentee, inviting them to become absentee voters. The vast majority of absentee voters vote by mail. Other counties may imitate San Diego County. This is because last week, California’s Secretary of State sharply limited the use of certain electronic vote-counting machines at the polls, to only one machine per precinct.

Georgia Voter Photo-I.D. Case Trial Set

Posted on August 7, 2007 by Richard WingerAugust 7, 2007

U.S. District Court Judge Harold Murphy will hold a trial on August 22 in Common Cause v Billups, 4:05-cv-201, in Rome, Georgia. This is the case over Georgia’s modified law requiring voters at the polls to show a government photo-ID. The case had been filed in 2005. The original law had been invalidated by Judge Murphy. Then the 2006 session of the legislature had modified it somewhat, but not enough to satisfy the plaintiffs. Then the federal case had been put on hold while a similar case worked its way through state court. However, the state case was eliminated when the Georgia Supreme Court said the plaintiffs in the state case lack standing. Therefore, the action moves back to Judge Murphy’s court.