The Independent View: Ballot Access News Update for Dec. 1st

I look forward to receive the colorful Ballot Access News newsletter from Richard Winger.

Here are some updates from my prior posts:

California - On October 15th, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed AB 837, which requires Election Officials to fully Inform Independent Voters that they may Vote in Presidential Primaries of certain Political Parties. The Democratic, Libertarian, and American Independent Parties let Independents vote in their 2016 Presidential Primaries, but many Independents were not informed. The New Law requires Election Officials to inform:

- All Mail-Ballot Independent Voters by Postal Mail.

- Posters explaining the choices at Polling Places.

- In the Voter Guide mailed to All Voters.

- On the Secretary of State's Webpage.

If the Top-Two Primary is repealed, a Petition is circulating, and Parties one again have their own Primary Ballot for Congress and State Office, the same Rules will apply to those Primary Ballots. StopTop2.com is collecting signatures to return to a Semi-Closed Primary system.

Florida - It is likely that in November 2018, Voters will vote on whether to Amend the State Constitution to provide that Independent Voters may chose any Primary Ballot they wish. Arizona and Colorado have similar Laws.

The Florida Constitutional Revision Commission has the Power to put Proposed Amendments on the Ballot, with No Petition needed. The Commission will consider whether to put this idea on the Ballot in early 2018. Commissioner Bill Schifino is backing the Idea. The Commission only comes into existence every twenty years. In 1998, it put on Ballot Access Reform on the Ballot, and it passed with 65% of the vote. The 1998 change eliminated Mandatory Petitions for Minor party and Independent Candidates for Congress, State, and Local Partisan Office.

Oregon - On November 22nd, the Oregon Democratic Party voted to continue the Policy that does not let Independent Voters vote in Democratic Primaries. The Republican Party already had a similar Rule. The Independent Party, lets No-Party Independents vote in their Primary.

South Dakota - On November 6th, Supporters of a Top-Two system Submitted approximately 37,200 Signatures to the Secretary of State’s office. Initiatives to change the State Constitution this year need 27,741 Valid Signatures. Election Officials are checking to see if it has enough Valid Signatures. If it does, it will be on the Ballot in November 2018. The Proposal applies only to the Governor, Congress, State Legislature, or County Office in the General Election. The Proposal does not Cover some Statewide State Offices. If it were Approved, Parties would still use Primaries with Nominees for Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Attorney General, Auditor, School Commissioner, and Public Utilities Commissioner.

Because the Measure only Amends the State Constitution, it is not very detailed. It would be up to the Legislature to Pass Laws on whether Party Labels would be allowed for Voters who are Registered Members of Unqualified Parties. Also the Legislature would decide how the Ballot would Explain to the Voters that Party Labels for some Office do mean the Candidate is a Party Nominee, but for other Offices, Party Labels don’t mean that the Candidate is a Party Nominee.