The October 7 New York Times has this story on the possibility of an independent presidential candidacy for Michael Bloomberg.
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On September 28, the 4th circuit upheld Maryland’s law, requiring that candidates be listed on primary ballots in alphabetical order. Schaefer v Lamone, 07-1003. The 4th circuit did not write its own opinion, but merely said it agrees with the U.S. District Court decision from 2006. That decision said that the state has a “compelling interest” in “avoiding voter confusion”, and that voter confusion would result if a random method of determining ballot order were used. This is a textbook example of how the courts use “voter confusion” to justify any state restriction that they aren’t inclined to examine closely and analytically. The three 4th circuit judges in this case are M. Blane Michael and William Traxler (Clinton appointees), and Roger Gregory (a Bush Jr. appointee).
On September 28, the 4th circuit upheld Maryland’s law, requiring that candidates be listed on primary ballots in alphabetical order. Schaefer v Lamone, 07-1003. The 4th circuit did not write its own opinion, but merely said it agrees with the U.S. District Court decision from 2006. That decision said that the state has a “compelling interest” in “avoiding voter confusion”, and that voter confusion would result if a random method of determining ballot order were used. This is a textbook example of how the courts use “voter confusion” to justify any state restriction that they aren’t inclined to examine closely and analytically. The three 4th circuit judges in this case are M. Blane Michael and William Traxler (Clinton appointees), and Roger Gregory (a Bush Jr. appointee).
Democrats in the Delaware legislature tried to make fusion illegal in 2007, but failed. However, the leader of the Democrats in the legislature has said he will try again in 2008. According to some reports, he will try to attach the anti-fusion amendment to a “must-pass” bill on some other subject. Thanks to Delaware Watch for this news.
On October 3, the New York State Board of Elections said it will ask the federal government to let it use old-fashioned lever mechanical voting machines in 2008. The federal government had required states to replace them by 2006, but had reluctantly permitted New York to use them in 2007. New York state is the only state that still uses them.
New York’s historic combination of mechanical voting machines, combined with a party column or party row ballot format, plus a discriminatory law on which parties get the best columns or rows, has disadvantaged minor political parties and independent candidates for more than 100 years.