In January 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court had refused to hear Nader v Serody, which meant that the 2006 order of the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court remained in place. That court order had said Ralph Nader must pay almost $90,000 to the Pennsylvania court system, for the costs of checking his signatures in 2004.

On July 11, McClatchy Newspapers carried a story about Pennsylvania’s attempt to collect the money. It says collection attorneys are trying to freeze Nader’s personal bank account, in an attempt to obtain $61,000. Nader’s vice-presidential candidate, Peter Camejo, who was also liable since his name was also on the 2004 petition, has already paid his share, which was $20,000.

The U.S. Supreme Court had ruled in 1972, and again in 1974, that it is unconstitutional for a state to require a mandatory fee to run for office. Nader’s lawsuit against the Pennsylvania system (that system charges candidates the costs of checking their signatures, should they fail to get on the ballot) had merit and should have been victorious. However, the Pennsylvania court system didn’t even consider the constitutional issue, and the only possible appeal was to the U.S. Supreme Court, which refused to hear it. The recent article quotes T. J. Rooney, chair of the Democratic Party, as saying mention of Nader’s name “makes my blood pressure rise by 50 points.”

New York State Board of Elections recently released registration data (as of April 1, 2007). Compared to a year ago, the Democratic, Independence, Working Families, Libertarian Parties have a higher share of the state’s registration than a year ago. Also the share of independent voters is higher. Parties with a smaller share than they had a year ago are Republican, Conservative and Green.

The current totals are Democratic 5,320,943 (47.42%); Republican 3,015,385 (26.87%); Independence 336,847 (3.00%); Conservative 149,157 (1.33%); Working Families 34,990 (.31%); Green 31,898 (.28%); Libertarian 1,257 (.01%); independents 2,331,561 (20.78%). Also the Socialist Workers Party has 4 registrants in the state; no tally had ever before been done in New York for the SWP.

On April 1, 2006, the totals were Democratic 5,489,521 (47.21%); Republican 3,143,233 (27.03%); Independence 339,382 (2.92%); Conservative 154,614 (1.33%); Liberal 68,242 (.59%); Right to Life 39,594 (.34%); Green 36,141 (.31%); Working Families 32,723 (.28%); Libertarian 798 (.01%); Marijuana Reform 171 (.00%); independent 2,322,966 (19.98%).

The reason the Libertarian registration is so low is that it has never been listed as a choice on the voter registration form; voters must write it in. New York doesn’t print the names of unqualified parties on the voter registration form, but it tallies them if they appeared on the ballot for a statewide office at the last gubernatorial election. The Green Party is no longer listed on the form but it was listed between 1999 and 2003 and it retains all the voters it picked up during those years, unless they make a new choice. The voters who were formerly tallied in the Liberal and Right to Life Parties were converted to independents after the 2006 election, since those two parties did not qualify any statewide nominees for the 2006 ballot. Thanks to Bill Van Allen for this news.

On July 8, Oklahomans who want to improve ballot access met in Stroud. The meeting was attended by independent voters, and leaders of the state’s Libertarian, Green and Constitution Parties. The group had previously met in June. The parent organization is called OKIES (Oklahoma Independents). A subgroup called Oklahoma Ballot Access Reform (OBAR) was re-energized, and its officers have filed campaign finance paperwork in order to raise money for an initiative to improve the ballot access laws for minor parties. The officers are also obtaining a post office box and a bank account.

An initiative to improve the ballot access laws will require about 74,000 valid signatures. A group that wants to circulate an initiative must complete the task in 90 days. The group is tentatively planning the drive for September-October-November 2007.