The May 18 Providence Journal has this op-ed in favor of HB 8072, the bill to eliminate the straight-ticket device. It is authored by Rhode Island’s independent State Senator Ed O’Neill. Straight-ticket devices are especially harmful to independent candidates. In Rhode Island, the usual term for the straight-ticket devise is the “master lever.” That terms(More)…
On May 18, Frank Morano, host of “The Answer”, a radio station broadcast on AM 970 in New York city, aired a 26 minute interview with Dick Lamm. The interview is 26 minutes long. At minute 20, Lamm talks about his experience seeking the Reform Party nomination for president in 1996, although not in much(More)…
On May 16, U.S. District Court Judge Gladys Kessler issued an order temporarily preventing the military from force-feeding (also called ‘enteral feeding’) an inmate at the military prison in Guantanamo …
On April 2, 2014, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker signed AB 419. It says that write-ins will no longer be counted, unless the write-in candidate files paperwork. As before, presidential candidates file a write-in declaration of candidacy. For office other than President, write-in votes will only be counted for candidates who filed campaign finance statements. Thanks(More)…
The Sunday, May 18 New York Times has this account of the Libertarian Party’s history 1976-1980 and its interaction with David Koch and some of his brothers. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.
On May 16, former Arizona state legislator Tom O’Halleran said he will run for the State Senate as an independent candidate. See this story. He changed his registration from “Republican” to “independent” on May 14. The petition deadline this year for independent candidates in Arizona is May 28. O’Halleran served in the legislature for eight(More)…
A U.S. District Court in Michigan will hear Moore v Johnson on Wednesday, May 21, at 9:30 a.m. This is one of the cases that challenges Michigan’s law requiring candidate petitions to be circulated only by registered voters. Thanks to Thomas Jones for this news.
The Rio Grande Institute is a non-partisan New Mexico organizations that studies ideas for improving government and society. On May 4, the Institute recommended easing ballot access for minor party and independent candidates. See here. New Mexico will probably be one of only three or four states this year with no minor party or independent(More)…
On May 15, Congressman John Conyers was added as a co-plaintiff to one of the two cases that challenges the Michigan law that requires petitioners for candidates to be registered voters. Because some other co-plaintiffs were also added, the case formerly known as Willis-Pittman is now named Moore v Johnson, e.d., 2:14cv-11903. Thanks to Thomas(More)…
There are two pending federal lawsuits in Michigan that will affect the ability of Congressman John Conyers to appear on the August 5 Democratic primary ballot. The case that had been filed first, Davis v Johnson, has been delayed somewhat. Judge Gershwin Drain, who had been set to handle the case, has recused himself. The(More)…
