COFOE (Coalition for Free & Open Elections) held its annual Board meeting in New York city on June 16. COFOE was founded in 1985 and is a loose coalition of most of the nation’s nationally-organized minor parties, as well as other organizations that support fair treatment for minor parties. Representatives attended from the Constitution, Green, Libertarian and Reform Parties, from the Committee for a United Independent Party (CUIP), and from the Ralph Nader 2004 campaign organization. Also, an observer was present from the Working Families Party, and a representative was present from Unity08.

The group discussed hopes that an initiative will be circulated in Oklahoma this fall, asking the voters if they wish to reduce the ballot access hurdles for new and minor political parties. Greater coordination between the group in Oklahoma that is working on this goal, and COFOE, will be sought, particularly on how to raise funds.

On other business, the COFOE Board passed three resolutions. The first resolution puts COFOE on record as opposing public financing that establishes different standards for qualifying, based on party affiliation or lack thereof.

The second resolution declares that political parties should be free to nominate any candidate for public office who meets the constitutional qualifications to hold that office.

The third resolution supports the right of U.S. citizens living in U.S. territories and commonwealths to vote for president and for presidential electors.

The Pennsylvania legislature is unlikely to pass the bill that moves the primary (for president and all other office) from April 22 to February 5. The State Elections Department has told the legislature that the change cannot be implemented unless the bill passes by June 30. Since the bill has made so little headway in either house, there is virtually no chance that it can pass by then.

The U.S. Supreme Court released some opinions on June 14, but the campaign finance challenge to the McCain-Feingold law was not among them. The next opinion day will be Monday, June 18. The campaign finance case is Federal Election Commission v Wisconsin Right to Life.