Portal:News

Louisiana's last closed Primary race

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana: The August 28, Louisiana primary election will be the last closed primary for the state, unless further legislation changes it back. Wednesday, July 28 was the last day for residents in the state to change their party affiliation or to register with a party in time to vote in the primary election. Both the Louisiana Senate and Congressional districts 2 and 3 have contested races and political experts expect heated races. Starting in 2012, the primary election will be open again meaning all candidates will face off during the primary, if one candidates from a party does not get more than half the majority of votes the top two would have a runoff election on October 2, then the winner would head to the general election in November. If a resident is a member of an unaligned party, they could choose to vote in the Democratic or Libertarian election, but not Republican. ^[1]

Open primary elections were held in the state until 2008 when legislation was enacted to make them closed. But due to widespread confusion the last 2 primary elections, the legislation enacted new legislation to make the primary elections open once again. Though officially this new legislation takes effect in 2011, the next primary election will be in 2012 so that would be the first time it is practiced.^[2]

Recall news

Wisconsin recall group questions mass mailer by suburban-Milwaukee Mayor

By Kyle Maichle

NEW BERLIN, Wisconsin: Concerned Citizens of New Berlin is asking the Waukesha County District Attorney to investigate if a mass mailer sent by Mayor Jack Chiovatero improperly used taxpayer resources^[1].

The group is asking District Attorney Brad Schimel to examine if the mailer Chiovatero used to attack other city council members was illegal because the piece was sent from the Mayor's office. The attack mailer produced by Chiovatero accused the previous Mayor and other city council members of not fixing problems in the City Center district^[1]. A low-income housing complex was originally planned in the controversial redevelopment project that was eventually denied by the New Berlin City Council^[2].

Also, Concerned Citizens for New Berlin questioned the timing of the Mayor's direct mail piece. According to a press release issued by the group, they suggest that Mayor Chiovatero's conduct was reprehensible when he attacked other city council members under the threat of a recall.

Group members are planning to gather signatures in order to recall Chiovatero for his initial support of the City Center project. 5,000 signatures are required to force a recall election on the Mayor^[3].

Ballot law news

North Carolina Supreme Court set to hear ballot access case

By Kyle Maichle

RALIEGH, North Carolina: The North Carolina Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments to determine if two minor political parties would gain official recognition by state election authorities^[1].

The state's highest court will be hearing oral arguments on September 9, 2010, at 9:30 AM EDT. The Libertarian and Green Parties of North Carolina are suing the State Board of Elections over signature requirements for new political parties. Attorneys for the party organizations argue that the requirements are too rigid for minor parties^[1].

Under state law, a new political party must have 85,379 signatures in order to be recognized as a major party. The threshold is equivalent to two percent of voters who casted ballots in the last election for Governor^[2]. Also, there is a distribution requirement that mandates 200 signatures must be obtained in a minimum four congressional districts^[1]. The threshold is the second highest in the nation to only California^[3]. Attorneys representing the Greens and Libertarians argue its unconstitutional to not let a party qualify a candidate at the local level if they cannot gain statewide recognition^[1].

Attorneys will also argue that the requirements for granting a check-off box on state tax forms are unconstitutional. In order for a party to have a check-off box, their membership must have at least one percent of the state's registered voters. Despite North Carolina Libertarians gained recognition as a major party in 2008, they do not qualify for a check-off box. The state accidentally printed the Libertarian Party on 2008 tax forms. As a result of the error, over $35,000 in contributions had to be returned to the state^[1].

The case was first filed by North Carolina Libertarians in 2005 before the Greens joined as a plaintiff. The Green Party of North Carolina has not gained recognition from the State Board of Elections according to Ballot Access News^[1].

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