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Petitioning on Post Office Sidewalks Case is Still Active

Posted on March 8, 2007 by Richard WingerMarch 8, 2007

The lawsuit filed in 2000 over a postal regulation that bars petitioning on internal post office sidewalks is the oldest pending lawsuit that affects minor party and independent candidates. Although there hasn’t been much news about the case in some time, it is alive and well. It is called Initiative & Referendum Institute v US Postal Service, and is in US District Court in Washington, DC. The judge has asked both sides to cooperate in producing additional evidence. Although much evidence has already been submitted, Judge Richard Roberts wants more.

New Congressional Bill on Voting, Registration Procedures

Posted on March 8, 2007 by Richard WingerMarch 8, 2007

On March 7, U.S. Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones introduced HJ 4, a House Judiciary Committee Resolution. Although the press release announced that a similar bill is being introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Hillary Clinton, there will be no actual bill in the Senate for some time. The bill requires all states to permit same-day registration for federal elections, as well as to expand absentee voting so that any voter may vote absentee whether he or she is away from home on election day or not. The bill also requires states to let ex-felons vote. Congress has the authority to do all these things, under Article One’s “Elections Clause”, but only for federal elections. The nation’s major civil rights organizations support this bill. The bill’s name is the “Count Every Vote Act.”

Oklahoma Bill to End Straight-Ticket Voting Passes Committee

Posted on March 8, 2007 by Richard WingerMarch 8, 2007

On February 19, Oklahoma SB16 passed the Senate Rules Committee. It ends the straight-ticket device. Similar bills are pending in Kentucky, New Hampshire, New Mexico and Texas.

Arkansas Legislature Passes IRV Bill

Posted on March 8, 2007 by Richard WingerMarch 8, 2007

On March 7, the Arkansas Senate passed HB1509 unanimously. It expands Instant-Runoff Voting for use in partisan primaries. Existing Arkansas law already lets overseas military voters use it, and HB 1509 extends this to overseas civilians as well. The Governor is expected to sign the bill soon.

Helpful Decision on Petitioning Rights is Reported Now

Posted on March 7, 2007 by Richard WingerMarch 7, 2007

Back on November 27, 2006, a U.S. District Court in Cincinnati struck down an Ohio law that made it illegal for circulators to be paid per signature. That decision is now reported. Citizens for Tax Reform v Deters, 462 F Supp 2d 827 (S.D. Ohio, 2006).
When a decision is reported, it is more influential. This decision is particularly well-reasoned, and it will help, as activists try to stop bills to outlaw paying circulators per signature now pending in the Washington and Montana legislatures.