In this edition:
Victory In Rhode Island Ballot Access Court Case
Louisiana: HB 776 Defeated!
Illinois Action Alert: HB 723 on the way to Governor Quinn
Victory in Rhode Island Ballot Access Court Case
Rhode Island may not prevent a group from starting to circulate its petition for qualified party status in an odd year, according to a ruling by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith.
Smith, a George W. Bush appointee, ruled in Block v Mollis, 09-47, on May 29th. Rhode Island provides that a group that wants to become a qualified party in advance of any particular election must submit a petition signed by 5% of the last vote cast. Furthermore, Rhode Island law makes it illegal to start circulating such a petition until January 1 of an even year.
The case is Block v Mollis, 09-47. The 27-page decision upholds the number of signatures. The case had been filed by the Moderate Party, which only exists in Rhode Island. This decision is the first constitutional ballot access victory in calendar year 2009 so far, and only the second decision to strike down a “start date” for petitions to create a ballot-qualified party. The first such decision had been won in U.S. District Court in Arkansas in 2001.
Story at Ballot Access News (including a link to the decision)
Legislative Update
Illinois
In Illinois, HB 723, a bill that would make it nearly impossible for third parties to slate candidates in Illinois, has passed both houses, and is on its way to Governor Quinn’s desk to be signed.
The bill would make it so that when no candidate of an established party runs in a primary for a particular office, that party can only fill the vacancy in nomination if the candidate they “slate” collects a large number of signatures.
Free & Equal remains opposed to this corrupt legislation, nicknamed the “Protect Incumbents Act”. A letter has been sent to Governor Quinn urging him to veto the bill.
Contact Governor Quinn today, and urge him to veto HB 723!
Louisiana
HB 776 has been defeated in the Louisiana State Legislature.
HB 776 was written by the Secretary of State’s office, and stated that qualified parties with fewer than 40,000 registrants may no longer nominate by primary.
Free & Equal Elections was concerned that the bill did not provide a way for parties to nominate candidates in lieu of a primary. There are no other pending ballot access bills in Louisiana this session.
