J.R. Myers has secured a spot on the November ballot. (J.R. Myers for Alaska Governor 2014)
The Alaska Division of Elections has determined that the Constitution Party’s nominees for Governor and Lieutenant Governor each have enough valid signatures on their petitions, and the candidates will appear on the November ballot.
It is odd that in Alaska, candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor are elected as a team in the general election, and yet the state forces independent candidates (and the nominees of unqualified parties) to each submit a separate petition, one for Governor and one for Lieutenant Governor.
UPDATE: see this news story.
Excerpt:
Alaskans will have one more option in the governor’s race: The Division of Elections will allow Constitution Party candidate J.R. Myers to appear on the ballot.
The Alaska Constitution Party has just over 200 members, and it was first recognized by the state in 2011. Because the organization is so new and small, it doesn’t qualify as a political party under statute. Instead, it’s lumped in with the Green Party and Veterans Party as “political group,” a sort of electoral purgatory where candidates have to collect signatures to get their names on the ballot.
Myers and his lieutenant governor running mate Maria Rensel each turned in over 4,000 names, exceeding the 3,017-signature threshold set by the Division of Elections to run for office.
Rensel says they’re not looking to beat incumbent Gov. Sean Parnell. Instead, they’re aiming for a more manageable 3 percent of the vote in a fight for ballot access. That would upgrade them to official “party” status, and guarantee them an automatic spot on the ballot next cycle.
The in-state requirement for petitioners has been successfully challenged in a good number of states.
Alaska has very strict laws regarding signature gathering for ballot position. No funds are allowed from out of state unless they come from individuals and then the donation limit is at $500.00. Also no out of state people are allowed to gather signatures. Therefore all of the signatures were gathered by local Alaskans. Some signatures were paid for by a professional, but well over half of the signatures came from volunteers just as was done in Wisconsin, Wyoming, Alabama, West Virginia, and in South Dakota. All of those drives were successful with the exception of South Dakota where the party fell short by 20 signatures.
I guess it’s a secret?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1D34m-SOWI
Out of professional curiosity, did you hire anyone to get signatures? If so, I’m wondering who it was, because I didn’t hear about it.
Maria and I really appreciate all the support across Alaska that made this happen! Thanks Alaskans!