Oops!!...

I received a letter from the State Election Commission the other day, informing me that I had missed filing one of the required forms that apparently was due after the state convention. It was the same form that had been filed before the convention, and was supposed to be filed in addition to the form that the state party had filed after the convention. At any rate, I plead guilty, sent in the form, and am waiting to hear what my fine will be.

But at least I'm not alone. It seems the Republicans and Democrats neglected to meet the deadline for getting their presidential nominees on the ballot in Texas: http://www.lpin.org/node/371

From the article:

"According to Texas Election Code § 192.031 , a political party is allowed to have their candidates on the ballot if "the names of the party's nominees for president and vice-president" are submitted before "5 p.m. of the 70th day before" the presidential election.

Given that neither the Republican Party nor the Democratic Party nominated a candidate before Aug. 26, it would be impossible for either party to file under Texas law.

"Third parties are never given second chances when it comes to getting on the ballot," says Verney. "And third parties are often thrown off the ballot for the most minor infractions of ballot access laws. In Texas, we have a clear deadline that was not met by the Republicans and Democrats, but it is all but certain that some way, some how, the establishment candidates will find a way on the ballot. Some people are just above the law."

A spokesperson for the Texas Secretary of State's Office claims that both parties "filed something" on time, despite the fact that neither party had nominated a candidate by the deadline as required by Texas law."

I'm pretty sure the rules will be adjusted to accommodate the major parties, and I'm also pretty sure most people will never hear about it. Or care.