A Zogby International poll, taken between June 2-6, asks Americans which party they wish to support for U.S. House this November. The results: Democratic 40%, Republican 29%, anyone else 5%, undecided 26%.
Unfortunately, there will probably be no “other” choice in 40% or so of the districts. Ballot access for minor party and independent candidates for U.S. House is far more difficult than for statewide office.
On May 15, the Louisiana House passed SB 18. It re-establishes closed primaries for congressional elections, instead of the “top-two” system that has been in place since 1978. The bill had already passed the Senate. Since the House amended it, it goes back to the Senate. The House Amendment requires parties to let independent voters vote in their primaries, unless they pass a bylaw excluding them.
On June 14, a Kentucky Circuit Court Judge in Lexington ordered that a candidate for non-partisan county office should be on the ballot, even though technically his petition was deficient. The law requires 100 signatures, and says if a voter signs a petition for two opposing candidates, neither signature courts. In the 4th county council race, there were two candidates. One candidate submitted his signatures early. The second candidate then examined the first candidate’s petition, noted the names of people who had signed, and then successfully persuaded some of those signers to sign his petition as well. The second candidate submitted far more signatures than needed.
Because of this action by the second candidate, the first candidate’s petition didn’t have enough signatures. But when this activity was brought to light, the judge ordered the first candidate on the ballot anyway. Roberts v Beard, Fayette Co. Circuit Court, 2nd div., 06-ci-711.
Pennsylvania’s current deadline for minor party and independent candidate petitions is August 1. HB 544 would move this to the first Tuesday in July. The bill is backed by the state Elections Department, and passed the House in December 2005. It is currently pending in the State Senate committee that handles election law bills.
On June 14, Missouri’s Governor signed SB 1014, which eliminates the straight-ticket device on general election ballots. Straight-ticket devices definitely injure independent candidates, and probably injure minor parties. Fourteen other states still have them.
