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Election reform is one of the most important issues facing our country and our world right now, even if it doesn't get the coverage of torture or abortion. The way that we run our elections and initiative processes determines who makes policy, the type of policy made, and the tone of our political discourse. If we ignore it or take advantage of the electoral system, we our doing ourselves and our republic a disservice.
If you have a more exciting title suggestion and/or would like to volunteer to help (or just have a news tip), please say so in the comments!
Some great news sources:
Ballot Access News
Election Law Blog
Daily Voting News (RIP John Gideon)
And now, onto the news...
Last week's poll - The question was, "What is your opinon on ballot access laws?" 4 people out of ten said (including me), " They are way too hard, there shouldn't be much of a limit on who can get on the ballot." Two people said, "They're too hard, but not that bad." Two people said they like them how they are. One said "they should be much, much harder." And one person said, "other," but failed to comment.
Charlottesville Democrats to Use Ranked Choice Voting for Primary - From Ballot Access News:
This year, the Democratic Party of Charlottesville, Virginia, is using Ranked-Choice voting to choose party nominees for city council and sheriff. See this article. Thanks to Steve Rankin for the link.
West Virginia Governor Signs Ballot Access Bill - From Ballot Access News:
On May 8, West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin III signed HB 2981, the ballot access improvement bill. West Virginia now has the best independent and minor party candidate petition deadline (for office other than president) that it has had since 1919. The new deadline is August 1. In 1919, the legislature had moved that deadline from October to May, and it had remained in May for 90 years.
Sunshine Act Notice [for military and overseas voters] -
ACTION: Notice of Public Meeting and Hearing Agenda.
Date & Time: Tuesday, May 19, 2009, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. EDT (Meeting & Hearing).
Place: U.S. Election Assistance Commission, 1225 New York Ave., NW., Suite 150, Washington, DC 20005, (Metro Stop: Metro Center).
Agenda: The Commission will hold a public meeting to consider administrative matters. The Commission will conduct a public hearing to receive presentations on the following topic: Military and Overseas Citizens: Counting Their Votes-- Part 1.
If you want to testify, you can apply here until May 15, and they'll accept 15 people:
Requests to speak may be sent to the EAC via e-mail at testimony@eac.gov, via mail addressed to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, 1225 New York Avenue, NW., Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005, or by fax at 202-566-1389. All requests must include a description of what will be said, contact information which will be used to notify the requestor with status of request (phone number on which a message may be left or e-mail), and include the subject/attention line (or on the envelope if by mail): UOCAVA Hearing Request to Participate. Please note that these comments will be made available to the public at http://www.eac.gov .
