Max Linn Wins Court Order for Debate, Only Hours Before Debate Starts

Posted on by October 30, 2006
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Max Linn, who was kept out of last week’s Florida gubernatorial debate by a State Court of Appeals, won a federal court order today at approximately 5 p.m. He then participated in tonight’s debate, which was sponsored by MSNBC.

Linn’s new lawsuit had first been filed in state court in Hillsborough County (Tampa), but attorneys for the debate sponsor demanded that the case be moved to federal court. The federal court hearing was at 4:30 pm, and Judge James Wittemore, a Clinton appointee in Tampa, issued a ruling in Linn’s favor shortly afterwards. Chris Matthews was the moderator.

Zogby Poll Shows Smither is Far From Winning

Posted on by October 30, 2006
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A Zogby poll for the US House race, 22nd district, shows that Libertarian hopes of actually electing a member of the US House seem wildly optimistic. This is the district represented by Tom DeLay until April of this year. The poll shows that Bob Smither, the Libertarian, is only at 5%, even though his only ballot-listed opponent is a Democrat. A Houston city councilwoman is the Republican write-in candidate.

Missouri Polls

Posted on by October 30, 2006
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Missouri has two statewide offices on the ballot. A poll conducted for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and KMOV-TV, released October 30, shows these results:

US Senate: Republican 47%, Democratic 47%, Libertarian 2%, other and undecided 4% (a Green is also on the ballot).

Auditor: Democratic 45%, Republican 40%, Libertarian 2%, Green 1%, undecided 12%.

Missouri law requires a party to poll 2% in any statewide race, at either of the last two elections, to remain on the ballot. Libertarians got over 2% in 2004 so their ballot status is not at stake this year. Greens need 2% in one of these two races in order to remain on the ballot. Greens in Missouri have never polled 2% in any statewide race; even Nader in 2000 only got 1.63% in Missouri. In Missouri, the Green Party is called the Progressive Party, since another group (which is not on the ballot) already had title to the name “Green”.

Voters in 9 States Voting on Election Law Changes

Posted on by October 30, 2006
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Voters in 9 states are voting on ballot measures that would alter election laws. Instant-Runoff Voting is being considered in two cities in California (Oakland and Davis), Minneapolis, and Pierce County, Washington (which includes Tacoma).

Massachusetts is voting on whether to legalize fusion and make it easier for minor parties to remain ballot-qualified.

Rhode Island is voting on whether to let ex-felons who have been released from prison to register to vote, even if they are on parole or probation.

California is voting on whether to implement public funding for candidates for state office. The formula is discriminatory in favor of Republican and Democratic candidates, as opposed to all other candidates.

Arizona is voting on whether to use all-mail voting, as Oregon currently does.

Florida voters will decide whether to require all ballot measures to receive 60% in order to pass, but Colorado is deciding on whether to make it easier for initiatives to qualify (by somewhat relaxing the “same-subject rule”). Oregon is voting on legislative term limits. Thanks to Professor Michael McDonald for most of this information.

6th Circuit Blocks Lower Court Stay on Ohio ID for Absentees

Posted on by October 29, 2006
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Federal courts in Ohio took the rare action of issuing orders on a weekend, October 28-29. As reported earlier, a U.S. District Court had blocked Ohio’s law on ID for absentee voters. One reason for this is that Ohio drivers licenses have two distinct numbers on them, one in large print and one in small print. Ohio requires absentee voters (voting by mail) to include the smaller-print drivers license number (not all counties have been enforcing this law). Many absentee ballots were being rejected because they were accompanied by the larger-print number on the drivers license instead of the smaller-print number.

Secretary of State Ken Blackwell decided not to fight the stay. However, Ohio’s Attorney General then filed an appeal of the stay anyway, saying he was representing the legislature, not the Secretary of State. The Attorney General’s appeal to the 6th circuit was filed after hours on Friday evening, and it was accepted by the 6th circuit on Sunday, October 29. The 6th circuit said it would explain its action later.