Posted on 10/24/2010 5:54:14 PM PDT by freespirited
A Florida Senate committee has recommended making it tougher for political candidates to switch or leave parties in mid-campaign, a move spurred by Florida Gov. Charlie Crist's bolt from the Republican Party to run as an independent for U.S. Senate.
The Florida Senate Ethics and Elections Committee also calls for a "sore-loser statute" that would prohibit party-affiliated candidates who lose a primary from re-entering the race as in independent.
"The issue is whether Florida law regarding candidates who change political parties while running for office is unambiguous and expansive enough to promote the state's interests in political stability and maintaining integrity in the various routes to the ballot," said a report released this month by the committee. "After careful review, some changes appear worthy of consideration."
The panel cited other states, including California and Colorado, that have stricter election laws regarding candidates switching or leaving parties.
The committee suggested that candidates be registered with a party - or to be a declared independent - one year before they must qualify for the office they seek. Since the qualification deadline for federal offices typically is about six months before the November general election, candidates would be locked into party or "non-party" status about 18 months before the final election, "effectively preventing last-minute party-switching for personal political gain."
Florida law currently says candidates can change their party status up to six months before a general election.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
They should name it, “Charlie’s Law” after the king of crybabies.
At the least they should have to give the money back.
mmmm, I thought this was going to be about recounts.
while they are at it. they should make switching parties illegal after the campaign as well.
while they are at it. they should make switching parties illegal after the campaign as well.
If they do not endorse the primary winner, make them pay the contributors back.
Now if a political party wants them to sign a contract in order to receive funds or whatever then that's fine. Then if they break the contract it's a matter between them and the court.
I like the Texas election law. You can’t run as an independent if you run in a party primary and lose. In order to get on the ballot as an independent, you have to get signatures from registered voters who did not vote in any primary or primary runoff election.
So, because Charlie Crist is a liberal loser, let’s create even more nearly insurmountable barriers between the people and the ballot.
If you don’t like Crist, don’t vote for him. Problem solved.
A Florida Senate committee has recommended making it tougher for political candidates to switch or leave parties in mid-campaign, a move spurred by Florida Gov. Charlie Crist's bolt from the Republican Party to run as an independent for U.S. Senate.
Here’s one I would like to see implemented IMMEDIATELY on November 2 for any race that looks like it might require a recount:
At midnight, with most precincts reporting, it should be obvious whether there will be a recount. If there is, do the following —
Have a judge issue an injunction that ALL BALLOTS must be registered and placed in secure storage by 6 a.m. WITH NO EXCEPTIONS. No “boxes of ballots” found in the trunks of cars, no “unopened absentee ballots” discovered two days later, no voting machines that haven’t been downloaded turning up a week later. NONE OF THAT!! Get every ballot secured and stored within 12 hours of the polls closing. People will have to scramble to meet the requirements of that injunction, but it’s better than seeing vote fraud.
One Stuart Smalley is too many in Congress, the way I see it.
Oh, that's right, the Obamatons would likely have hissy fits if such a reasonable idea were to even be discussed in the legislature.
Great idea. I hope all states adopt this.
That's called larceny.
I am against this. It is a violation of the people’s right to vote for whomever they want. If a loser jumps back in as an Indy let the voters decide. A law like this only serves to make the Party big shots comfortable and insures they don’t have to work as hard. I’m sick of catering to Party people they are the ones who have made much of this mess.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.