On May 17, the 10th circuit ruled that a state with the initiative process is free to provide that for certain subjects, initiatives cannot take effect unless they receive a “yes” vote of two-thirds of the vote. Initiative & Referendum Institute v Walker, 02-4105. In this particular case, the Utah legislature had provided that initiatives on the subject of “allowing, limiting, or taking of wildlife” needs 2/3rds voting support, not just majority support.
On May 8, the Working Families Party filed to be a “political body” in California. That means, whenever the state does a tally of how many registered voters there are in the state, it will tally the number of voters who have registered as Working Families Party members. If the party persuades approximately 80,000 people to take this step by January 2008, it will become a qualified party at that time.
On May 8, the Working Families Party filed to be a “political body” in California. That means, whenever the state does a tally of how many registered voters there are in the state, it will tally the number of voters who have registered as Working Families Party members. If the party persuades approximately 80,000 people to take this step by January 2008, it will become a qualified party at that time.
The California Senate Elections Committee had scheduled a hearing on May 17 on AB 583, the “Clean Elections” public funding bill for state candidates. However, the hearing was cancelled, and it is not likely that the bill will pass in a future hearing this year. An initiative will probably appear on the November 2006 ballot to implement “Clean Elections” in any event. Unfortunately, the initiative is even more discriminatory against members of minor parties, and independent candidates, than AB 583.
Paul Trujillo, chair of the Valencia County, New Mexico, County Commission, formally switched his registration from “Democrat” to “Libertarian” on May 4. He had said several months ago that he would do this. He is running for re-election as a Libertarian, and will face a Democratic and a Republican opponent.
