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.
Last month, the Democratic Party tentatively approved a rules change, to let one or two states hold a presidential caucus before the New Hampshire primary. Under current Democratic Party rules, only Iowa is permitted to hold a nominating event before New Hampshire. Eight states have applied for permission to hold an early caucus: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada and South Carolina.
Michigan Democrats say that if the national party doesn’t choose them for one of the early caucus slots, that they (in combination with the Michigan Republican Party) will pass a bill in the Michigan legislature, providing for a February 5 presidential primary in that state, whether it is approved by the national party or not.
