On September 11, the 6th circuit refused to disturb last week’s U.S. District Court decision, leaving the anti-affirmative action initiative on the Michigan ballot. The District Court had found that some of the circulators tricked people into signing, but said even without the trickery, the initiative would have had enough valid signatures.
On September 9, the Democratic, Republican and Libertarian Party candidates for Governor of Colorado debated each other in Grand Junction. Two other candidates for Governor who are on the ballot, the Constitution Party nominee, as well as independent Paul Fiorino, were not permitted to debate.
The U.S. has 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 48 of them, there is no contest between a Democrat and a Republican. In 9 districts, there is no Democrat on the ballot; in 43 districts, there is no Republican.
The Working Families Party’s ballot access case will be heard in federal court on September 11 at 2 p.m. The issue is whether the party (which the state admits is a qualified party) is permitted to nominate candidates this year. The party followed the law, which permits a party to submit its petition no later than six months before the general election. But the state says if a new party wants to nominate any candidates in its first year on the ballot, it must really submit the petition much earlier.
The state lost on this issue in 1996, in a lawsuit won by the Natural Law Party. In 1996, the state admitted it was wrong, and didn’t contest the lawsuit. This year the state says should never have given in, back in 1996. The hearing is before Judge Cameron McGowan, a Clinton appointee.
New Hampshire previously put the Republican Party column first on the general election ballot; then the Democratic column; then any others. The New Hampshire Supreme Court declared that system unconstitutional back on August 17.
On September 9, after a meeting with all interested parties, New Hampshire’s Secretary of State said that in November 2006, that Democrats will appear first in one-third of the state’s State Senate districts; Republicans will appear first in another third of those districts; and Libertarians and independents will appear first in the remaining third. After 2006, the system will be based on whatever the legislature decides, subject to the principle of the court decision, mandating equal opportunity for all to get the best spot on the ballot.
