Green Party: Hillary Clinton, thank you for running!

The Green Party is saying thank you to Hillary Clinton for running for President.  An e-mail from the party said since Clinton's announcement, "We've been getting a huge influx of new supporters. The number of tweets shot up by 300%--and it's holding! We're getting a similar uptick in people joining the party".

The e-mail says people are joining because, "people are fed up... afraid... and sick and tired of having 90's-style realpolitik shoved down their throats."

The e-mail says the Greens want to "max out" on candidates for the up-coming election cycle and continue with our "aggressive ballot access work".

Libertarian blog comes out against "Top Two" voting

A Libertarian Party blog post came out against a "Top-Two" primary ballot initiative in Florida.

The plan would move the top two vote-getters in what is effectively an open primary to the general election.  No matter what party the top two candidates belong to, they will advance to the general election and would be the only two candidates on the General Election ballot.

The blog post says the practice, "severely damages the chances for alternative parties and independents to participate in the general election, except where seats are uncontested."

Currently, California and Washington have "Top Two" elections. 

Source:http://www.lp.org/blogs/staff/florida-ballot-initiative-for-two-only-general-elections-begins-to-circulate

Ballot access battle could go to NC Supreme court…

An associated press article posted on WBTV.com says North Carolina’s strict ballot access rules may be challenged in the state’s supreme court.

Lawyers for the Libertarian and Green parties lost the appeal. But the article reads, “A lawsuit challenging requirements for third parties to get on North Carolina ballots likely will be heard again after a split decision by the state Court of Appeals… The 2-1 decision means the state Supreme Court would take the case if attorneys for the Libertarian and Green parties asked them to do so.”

The parties in North Carolina have to collect nearly 70,000 signatures to get on the ballot. If a candidate failed to receive 2% of the vote, the petition process starts over again.

SOURCE:

http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11345243

Talk to the docket…

Talk to the docket is the word from a New Jersey judge. According to NJ.com, Superior Court Judge Theodore Bozonelis will not immediately hear the suit from independent gubernatorial candidate Chris Daggett and Libertarian candidate Kenneth Kaplan.

They sued the state arguing the way the State of New Jersey places candidate’s names on the ballot is unconstitutional.

Currently, only “major” political parties can get top billing. Second tier parties get second billing, being placed physically lower than top parties on ballots. The Judge said he needs to see proof ballot positing effects votes. Also according to NJ.com, “(The Judge needed to consider) if the lawsuit is one a court should even consider.”

SOURCE: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/09/nj_judge_refused_to_hear_ballo.html

West Virginia getting help from Texas…

West Virginia getting help from Texas… to grow the party.

The Libertarian Party of West Virginia has called in support from Texas to get help in getting candidates on ballots. Wes Benedict, the Former Executive Director of the Libertarian Party of Texas, has written a letter to West Virginia Libertarians about ballot access and candidate recruitment.

He writes of having a goal of 10 Libertarian candidates on the November 2010 ballot in West Virginia. The letter mentions last Libertarian Party candidate on the West Virginia ran candidates for office was Michael Badnarik’s 2004 President campaign. Bob Barr failed to get onto the 2008 ballot.

Benedict ends the letter, “I can’t guarantee that they’ll be successful or that nothing will go wrong. I’m in Texas, not West Virginia. However, I do hope that others will recognize that Matt Harris and the LPWV are showing initiative and making things happen…” He also asked for donations to help in ballot access efforts.

SOURCE:

http://www.lpwv.org/2009/06/01/help-the-lpwv-put-candidates-into-office/

Green Party, Libertarians, and Constitution Party team-up...

Green Party, Libertarians, and Constitution Party team-up... The Green Party sent out a news release saying the three major third parties are teaming-up to file a federal lawsuit to challenge discriminatory provisions and enforcement of ballot access laws.

The news release says, "The Green Party of Pennsylvania is party to a lawsuit that was filed recently by the Center for Competitive Democracy."

The lawsuit challenges rules that force candidates to pay litigation costs and fees to private parties who challenge their nomination petitions. The release says, "these fees have amounted to more $80,000 for the crime of doing no more than trying to run for public office."

The news release pointed to 2006 Green Party Senatorial candidate Carl Romanelli. The release says Romanelli submitted more than 100,000 signatures to get on the ballot, “The Democratic Party challenged the signatures, and after a 7-week battle, chipped away at the Green Party signatures with technicality after technicality.” Romanelli was off the ballot and fined $80,000 in court costs. "You shouldn't have to risk house and home to run for office in Pennsylvania," said Hillary Kane, Chair of the Green Party of Pennsylvania. The release continued, “similar scenario left Independent candidate Ralph Nader… with more than $80,000 in fees from their 2004 Presidential run.”

SOURCE:

http://www.gp.org/press/pr-state.php?ID=220

http://www.gpofpa.org

http://www.gp.cofm