New York and New Jersey each have 9 names printed on the ballot for the office at the top of the ballot. No other state has that many choices for the top office this year.

In New Jersey, U.S. Senate is the only statewide race up this year. The Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, Socialist, and Socialist Workers Parties have candidates for that office on the ballot, and there are also 4 independents.

In New York, there are only 6 candidates for Governor, but there are 9 names of candidates for Governor on the ballot. This is because the Democratic nominee is also the nominee of the Working Families and Independence Parties; and the Republican nominee is also the nominee of the Conservative Party. Running against the Republican and Democratic gubernatorial nominees are the nominees of the Green, Libertarian and Socialist Workers Party, and an independent candidate using the ballot slogan “Rent is Too Damn High”. Two other groups were removed from the gubernatorial ballot because they didn’t have enough signatures, Right to Life and Voice of People.

In 2007, bills will be introduced in 28 states to pass the “National Popular Vote Plan” for president. The states are Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The organization supporting the plan may do an initiative in California, since the Governor vetoed it and is considered likely to be re-elected this year.

On September 30, California Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed AB 2948. See 3 posts down for a description of the bill.