On September 6, as has been noted, the Ohio Libertarian Party won a lawsuit in the 6th circuit. That court invalidated the procedure for new parties to get on the ballot, a petition of 1% of the last vote cast, due a year before the general election. Although there was no indication the state would ask for a rehearing, it had always been a possibility. However, the deadline for such a request has now passed, and the state made no such request.
Two significant election law changes made some time ago have just come to my awareness…South Dakota banned fusion in 1999, and no one who cares about this seems to have known about that. Also, in 2001, Vermont lowered the petition requirement for independent candidates for all statewide office (except president) from 1,000 signatures, to 250 signatures. It is not known why this happened.
Two significant election law changes made some time ago have just come to my awareness…South Dakota banned fusion in 1999, and no one who cares about this seems to have known about that. Also, in 2001, Vermont lowered the petition requirement for independent candidates for all statewide office (except president) from 1,000 signatures, to 250 signatures. It is not known why this happened.
The Libertarian Party of Vermont nominated nine candidates on September 13, 2006. Seven were running for the legislature and two for local office. Four of them mailed their acceptance forms on the morning of September 14. The deadline for the Secretary of State to receive these forms was September 15. Normally, all intra-Vermont postal mail is delivered in one day. However, in this case, none of the forms filed by the four arrived until September 16, and the Secretary of State is taking a hard-line position and denying them ballot access.
Three other Libertarians running for the legislature did not have deadline problems. They include two with the label “Libertarian, Republican” and one with the label “Libertarian”. Among the four legislative candidates who are being denied ballot status, three will still be on the ballot, but as “Republican” instead of the desired label “Libertarian, Republican”.
The Libertarian Party will continue to be a ballot-qualified party in Vermont. Vermont determines party status by whether it is organized in 10 towns, not on how many votes it polls or how many candidates it runs. Thanks to Hardy Machia for correcting the original version of this post (with his comment below). The party has not had any intent to run any statewide nominees this year.
On September 20, the US House of Representatives passed HR 4844, by Henry Hyde (R-Il.). It would require everyone to present a government-issued photo ID before voting at the polls, effective in 2008. By 2010, such ID must also be of a type that certifies the holder is a citizen. The vote was 228-196. The bill also requires states to provide such ID free.
