Anyone know what happens if Mihos doesn't pick a running mate and then ends up winning the general? Do we not have an LG? Can he even be on the ballot without one?
Anyone read the MA constitution lately? I know I sure haven't...
Also, are Mihos's signatures due now or later in the summer? Could this be why he hasn't chosen anyone yet?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Mihos and his running mate have until August 1st to submit their respective 10,000 signatures to town clerks. He, and any potential running mate, had a deadline of March, 7th to unenroll from a party. This deadline doesn't apply to newly registered voters, but to run for Governor or LG you need to have lived in the state for the 7 years prior to Election Day.
In my very cursory check I can't find anything definitive about when he needs to pick a running mate beyond the August 1st deadline for signatures.
Actually, by my reading of the state constitution, he doesn't get to pick a running mate!
First of all, the main part of the constitution talks about separate elections (the same language that applies for the AG, Treasurer, etc.)
However, in 1966, the constitution was amended by the following amendment:
"Article LXXXVI. Names of candidates of political parties for the offices of governor and lieutenant-governor shall be grouped on the official ballot for use at state elections according to the parties they represent, and the voter may cast a single vote for any such group, which shall count as a vote for each candidate in such group, but may not cast a vote for only one of the candidates in such group."
Now Mihos is not a party candidate, so it would appear that voters would have to vote separately for the Lt. Governor candidate. In other words, voters could make one mark for the Republican ticket of Healey and Hillman, or two marks for Mihos and Jane Doe.
This means that there's no way for someone to vote for Mihos and Hillman, or Mihos and the Democratic candidate, in the case there is no independent candidate for Lt. Governor.
So it is possible, even likely, that in the far-out scenario that Mihos wins, he would have a Lt. Governor from one of the two parties.
By the way, the minor parties have lost "party" status in Massachusetts, so the same applies to Green and Libertarians.
It would be quite smart for Mihos to pick a running mate sooner than later so they can collect signatures on the nominating papers as a slate instead of seperately, as the Green-Rainbow's are doing this year.
Post a Comment