Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Bob Barr Cements Texas

By being the only presidential candidate on the ballot. Apparently the other two parties forgot to file in time...

From Ballot Access News:

Section 192.031 of the Texas election code says that political parties must certify their presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the November ballot no later than 70 days before the general election. It says, “A political party is entitled to have the names of its nominees for president and vice-president placed on the ballot if before 5 p.m. of the 70th day before presidential election day, the party’s state chair signs and delivers to the secretary of state a written certification of the name’s of the party’s nominees for president and vice-president.”

This year, that deadline is August 26. UPDATE: At 2:30 pm Texas time, August 27, Kim Kizer of the Texas Secretary of State’s elections division says neither major party’s certification has been received in the Elections Division. The Executive Office of the Secretary of State refers all questions back to the Elections Division.

This year, neither the Democratic Party nor the Republican Party obeyed this law. See this link to the Secretary of State’s web page showing a blank for the Republicans and Democrats for president.
Well that kind of puts McCain in a bit of a bind now doesn't? In all seriousness I'm sure both parties will find a way to get around the letter of the law. But still as a purely hypothetical situation this is funny as heck to ponder for a bit.

H/T Below the Beltway