February 05, 2006

"Peace and Freedom Party back on June primary election"

The Peace and Freedom Party was added back to the June primary ballot Friday, two days after the state's top election official ruled the party didn't have enough registered voters to qualify.

Secretary of State Bruce McPherson said Wednesday that the party fell short of the minimum 77,389 registered voters needed to nominate candidates.

That figure is 1 percent of the total votes cast for governor in the 2002 general election. The party also could have qualified for the ballot by having a candidate received 2 percent of the total vote in the 2002 election, McPherson said.

The Peace and Freedom Party did not field any candidates in the 2002 election. But party Chairman Kevin Akin argued the number of votes the party gathers in this November's election for governor should determine whether the party gets kicked off the ballot, not the 2002 race.

McPherson believes his legal interpretation is correct, said spokeswoman Jennifer Kerns. However, in five similar situations dating to 1934, the voter-deficient parties were allowed to remain on the ballot until the next election.

"There appears to be a historical precedent to the Peace and Freedom Party being back on the ballot," Kerns said.

McPherson will seek legislation to clarify the law, she said."

Posted by Randy Riddle at February 5, 2006 11:21 AM