Posted on 02/03/2006 3:46:07 PM PST by Amerigomag
Three days after kicking the Peace and Freedom Party off the ballot for the 2006 election, Secretary of State Bruce McPherson reversed himself on Friday. McPherson's office said the secretary believes he interpreted the state's complex ballot access law correctly, but changed course after minor party officials presented him with legal precedents dating back more than 70 years.
To maintain qualified status, a party must have registered voters equal to or more than 1 percent of the number of votes cast in the previous gubernatorial election (2002) or have had a candidate receive 2 percent of the votes cast in that election. The number of voters registered with the Peace and Freedom Party as of Jan. 3 fell below the 77,389 needed, and the party fielded no candidates in 2002 because it was not a qualified party at that time.
But it had regained its status in time for the 2004 presidential election and fielded several candidates. In similar instances in the past, secretaries of state have allowed the party to stay on the ballot through the next gubernatorial election.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
Whew! That was a close one. Had me worried.
...with a lock on the granola vote.
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