The federal court hearing in Texas over procedures for checking the signatures of independent candidates, filed by independent gubernatorial candidate Carole Strayhorn, will be on May 1 in Austin. The issues are whether independents can turn in signatures on a flow basis, or whether they are restricted to only a single turn-in; and whether the Secretary of State may refuse to use the statutory procedures for random sampling.
On April 18, the California Assembly Elections Committee passed AB 2097. It requires companies that sell vote-counting machines in California to make their software public. All Democrats voting voted for it; all of the Republicans abstained. The Secretary of State and several county elections officials testified against the bill. They warned that if vote-counting manufacturers are forced to make their computer software public, that these companies will refuse to do business in California.
Missouri’s SB 726 has passed all committees in the House, and is on the consent calendar, so it will probably pass within a week. It gives new political parties more flexibility to decide whom to run for president. It is one of the few bills that help minor parties that is making any headway this year, in legislatures around the U.S.
The Green Party candidates for Governor and US Senator will be on the Tennessee ballot this year, according to the Secretary of State. No other minor party qualified any statewide nominees in that state this year. Unfortunately, since the Greens used the independent candidate procedures, they won’t have the “Green” label next to their names. They are Chris Lugo for US Senate, and Howard Switzer for Governor.
Steve Kubby, the 1998 Libertarian candidate for Governor of California, was released from the Placer County jail on April 5. He has a rare medical condition that is eased by marijuana, and he had been imprisoned solely because of his marijuana usage.
