On the Texas ballot, vote free or die

For a few hours today, it looked like Texans going to vote for president in November would have a ballot choice consisting of Libertarian Party candidate Bob Barr. Ballot Access News, a non-partisan newsletter, posted a story saying that the Democratic and Republican state parties had missed a deadline of 5 p.m. Aug. 26 to certify their candidates. There was a blank space on the Texas Secretary of State's webpage for the major parties but none for Barr. Naturally, this was irresistible to the Libertarian camp.

"Unless the state of Texas violates their own election laws, Congressman Barr will be the only presidential candidate on the ballot," said Russell Verney, Barr's campaign manager who also managed the campaigns of Texas presidential candidate Ross Perot.  "Texas law makes no exceptions for missing deadlines."

Ah, but it was not to be. Texas Secretary of State spokesperson Ashley Burton said that upon further checking, "Both parties filed before the deadline. We expect their amended filings after both parties finish their nominating process at the conventions."  Texas law, changed in 2005, requires that the parties submit their candidates names 70 days before the election. Problem is, neither party has gotten through their nominating process. The Texas Republican Party listed John McCain and "running mate" as their candidates, with an amended certification after the GOP convention in St. Paul. Obama and Biden will be certified after the Democratic Convention.

-- Maria Recio
http://www.ballot-access.org/2008/08/27/democrats-republicans-miss-texas-deadline-to-certify-presidential-nominees/
mailto:mrecio@mcclatchydc.com