FEC Book of 2006 Election Returns Now Available

Posted on by September 9, 2007
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The Federal Election Commission’s book of 2006 election returns, called Federal Elections 2006, is now in print. It is free and can be obtained by calling the FEC at 800-424-9530. It is the most elaborate election returns book the FEC has ever published. Like the earlier books in the series, it has election returns for both primaries and the general election. It has tables showing the vote for each house of Congress, nationwide, by party (except that it only has “Democratic” “Republican” and “other” compilations).

Unlike previous volumes, this one has 7 color maps of the U.S. that illustrate various points about the election. For example, one map gives a clear picture of which states had U.S. House districts that shifted from Republican to Democratic, and how many in each state. Another map shows which states had all incumbents re-elected.

California Republican State Convention Ends; No Change to Closed Presidential Primary

Posted on by September 9, 2007
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The California Republican state convention concluded on September 9. The convention made no changes to the party bylaw that excludes independent voters from voting in the party’s presidential primary. Independents can vote in the California Republican Party primary in June 2008, for partisan offices other than president.

The California Republican Party is the only state party in the nation that willingly lets independent voters vote in its primary for Congress and state office, but not vote in its presidential primary. Also, in Arizona, by state law, independents may vote in any party’s primary for Congress and state office, but this Arizona law does not apply to the presidential primary.

Federal Judge Upholds Oklahoma Ban on Out-of-State Circulators

Posted on by September 8, 2007
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On September 7, a U.S. District Court in Oklahoma City upheld Oklahoma’s law, banning out-of-state petition circulators. Yes on Term Limits v Savage, no. 5:07-cv-680. Here is the decision.

The judge, Tim Leonard, seemed to feel that elections officials can’t check the validity of petitions, unless it can interview the circulators. It isn’t clear why a state can’t check signatures on petitions by comparing a signature on the petition, with the same voter’s signature on a voter registration form.

Judge Leonard’s rationale is that out-of-state circulators will leave the state as soon as they are done working on the petition, and if the state needs to interview them about their work, the state won’t be able to find them.