On December 16, eight Libertarian residents of Jefferson County, Kentucky (Louisville) appeared together at the County Election Board, to re-register “Libertarian”. Under new Kentucky election regulations, members of certain unqualified parties will now be tallied, but only new registrations will count. The group had arranged for TV coverage. WHAS-TV (channel 11) filmed the group, and it is expected that it will be covered on that channel’s news program the evening of December 16.
On December 15, Rep. Paul Froehlich introduced HB 4250, which cuts the number of signatures for an independent candidate for the legislature from 10% of the last vote cast, to 5%. The current Illinois requirement is the only one in the nation higher than 5% of the number of registered voters.
Three Cook County Judges have sued to overturn an Illinois state law that requires them to file for re-election in December of the year before the election. The election itself is in November of even years. The judges missed the December 5, 2005 deadline. Fortunately for them, the Illinois Constitution says that deadlines for judges to file for re-election is six months before the election (May of even years). The Illinois Election Code has contradicted the State Constitution ever since 1977. One of the cases, O’Brien v White, circuit court, Cook Co., 05-coel 36, is set for a hearing on December 19.
On December 16, Libertarian Party activists in Louisville, Kentucky, will all simultaneously appear in the County Election Board offices, to re-register as Libertarians. The party hopes the event will attract press attention. Kentucky is now tallying the number of registrants in active but unqualified parties for the first time, but there has been little publicity about it.
The Canadian Green Party leader was not permitted to debate the leaders of the four larger Canadian political parties, last time Canada held a Parliamentary Election. The Greens of Canada are now carrying on a vigorous public relations campaign to get into the next national debate. The Green Party polled 4% of the vote in the last national election.
