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Reform Party Petition for Rehearing Denied in FEC Case

Posted on May 10, 2007 by Richard WingerMay 10, 2007

On May 9, the 11th circuit denied the Reform Party’s petition for a rehearing in Federal Election Commission v Reform Party. This is the case in which the FEC has been seeking repayment of $333,000 that it gave to the party for its national convention in 2000. As a result, the national party remains under a court order that it not spend any money on anything except repayment of the debt. Therefore, it is unable to spend money on fund-raising. It is most unlikely the FEC will ever get its money back.

Two California Bills Advance

Posted on May 9, 2007 by Richard WingerMay 9, 2007

On May 9, two California election law bills advanced. AB 1294, which permits all cities and counties to use Instant-Runoff voting for elections for their own officers, passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee. SB 439, which legalizes write-ins when the voter forgets to “X” the box next to the name just written in, passed the Senate Elections Committee.

Vermont Commitee Takes Testimony on IRV; will vote on May 10

Posted on May 9, 2007 by Richard WingerMay 9, 2007

On May 9, the Vermont House Government Operations Committee took testimony on SB 108, the Instant-Runoff Voting bill that has already passed the Senate. The House Committee will vote on the morning of May 10.

Massachusetts Special US House Election

Posted on May 9, 2007 by Richard WingerMay 9, 2007

On May 9, Massachusetts Congressman Martin Meehan said he is resigning from the US House effective July 1. He is a Democrat. A special election to fill the vacancy will be held October 16, 2007. Massachusetts has 4 ballot-qualified parties: Republican, Democratic, Green, and Working Families. They will each have a primary on September 4, 2007, for this special election. Parties that are not ballot-qualified may also participate if their nominees submit 2,000 signatures. The Constitution Party has already said it will run someone.

Constitution Party Candidate Wins 38% in 2-person South Carolina Partisan Race

Posted on May 9, 2007 by Richard WingerMay 9, 2007

On May 8, voters in Greenville County, South Carolina, voted to fill a vacancy on the County Council, 20th district. Only two candidates were on the ballot in this partisan election. The Constitution Party nominee, Butch Taylor, polled 514 votes, or 38.4%. The winning Republican nominee, Sid Cates, is an administrator at Bob Jones University. Thanks to Austin Cassidy’s Third Party Watch for this news.