On May 27, the Texas Senate rejected the House’s version of SB 100, the bill that adjusts various primary dates, and petition deadlines for independent candidates. The House had passed a version that keeps the first primary in March but moves the runoff primary from April to May. The latter change had the indirect result that the independent candidate petition deadline (for office other than President) moved from May to June. Read more »
WASHINGTON – Libertarian Party Chair Mark Hinkle issued the following statement today:
“Yesterday, Republicans and Democrats in Congress joined hands to renew several provisions of the Patriot Act. These provisions are unconstitutional and violate our right to freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures.
“These provisions should be repealed, and if they’re not repealed, they ought to be ruled unconstitutional by the courts. Read more »
On May 26, the Louisiana House passed HB 533 unanimously. This is the Secretary of State’s omnibus election law bill. Among other things, it says independent candidates will have “independent” on the ballot next to their names. Current law requires that “no party” be on the ballot next to their names Read more »
On May 26, the Constitution Party of Kansas filed a notice of appeal in its lawsuit which seeks the ability to have voters in Kansas register as members of the Constitution Party (currently Kansas won’t let voters register as members of unqualified parties). The case is now in the 10th circuit. Read more »
The following is from Utah Libertarian activist Tom Garrison.
My name is Tom Garrison. I am putting together a book tentatively titled Why We Left the Left. I am looking to enlist folks who publicly identified with the left/liberalism at one point in their lives and have since evolved into libertarians. Read more »
On May 26, Americans Elect turned in its petition to become a party in 2012 in Michigan. The requirement is 32,261 signatures, and Americans Elect submitted 67,731 signatures. Assuming this petition is valid, it will be the first time a party petition in Michigan has succeeded since 2002, when the Libertarian Party submitted a petition. Read more »
On May 26, the Alabama Senate passed HB 425. It moves the primary for all office, in presidential years, to the second Tuesday in March. It also moves the petition deadlines for minor parties and non-presidential independent candidates to the second Tuesday in March. The bill is now through the legislature and before the Governor. It passed the Senate 21-11. Read more »
Puerto Rico’s colonial status must be replaced with self-determination and independence, say Greens
WASHINGTON, DC — The Green Party has joined Puerto Ricans protesting a proposal by Gov. Luis Fortuño to construct a huge natural gas pipeline that would endanger Puerto Rico’s communities and ecosystems. Read more »
