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Iowa Greens, Libertarians Over Halfway to Getting Voter Registration Listing

Posted on September 7, 2007 by Richard WingerSeptember 7, 2007

Thanks to the ACLU lawsuit settled against Iowa a few months ago, Iowa now has a procedure than an unqualified party can be listed on the voter registration form, if it placed a nominee on the ballot in the last election, and if it submits 850 signatures on a petition. The Iowa Green Party now has over 800 signatures on its voter registration petition, and the Iowa Libertarian Party now has 600. No other unqualified parties are attempting this.

Other states that have registration by party, but which refuse to tally the number of registrations for any unqualified party, are Arizona, Kansas, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wyoming. The policy of refusing to do a tally for any unqualified parties has been held unconstitutional in five states so far (Colorado, Oklahoma, Iowa, New Jersey, and New York).

Oklahoma Initiative to Reform Ballot Access Laws Gets Publicity

Posted on September 7, 2007 by Richard WingerSeptember 7, 2007

Shane Cory, national director of the Libertarian Party, just completed an Oklahoma tour to gain support for a proposed initiative to reform the Oklahoma ballot access laws. The state’s largest newspaper, The Daily Oklahoman, has given the cause a great deal of publicity. Fortunately, other daily newspapers are starting to pay attention as well. See this story.

Colorado Republican Caucus Moved from March to February 5

Posted on September 7, 2007 by Richard WingerSeptember 7, 2007

On September 6, the Colorado Republican Party moved its 2008 presidential caucuses from March to February 5. The Colorado Democratic Party had made a similar move several months ago. Thanks to The Green Papers for this news.

Rush Holt Congressional Bill Postponed

Posted on September 7, 2007 by Richard WingerSeptember 7, 2007

HR 811, the bill in Congress to require vote-counting machines to produce a paper trail, will not be taken up in the House until September 17 at the earliest. Congressman Rush Holt (D-N.J.) had hoped it would pass the House this week, but it has fierce opposition, both from elections officials who don’t want a paper trail, and from activists who want to eventually eliminate all electronic vote-counting machines. Thus the bill has enemies from both directions.

New Hampshire Legislative Hearing on Bill to Ease Definition of "Party"

Posted on September 7, 2007 by adminSeptember 7, 2007

On September 12, a New Hampshire legislative subcommittee will hold a hearing on HB 48, which lowers the definition of “party” from a group that polled 4%, to a group that polled 2%. New Hampshire is one of only 15 states which currently recognizes only the Democratic and Republican Parties. The median vote test of the 50 states is 2%, so New Hampshire law is tougher than the average law.