Election 2008

P.O. boxes OK for petitions Arizona court says

PHOENIX—Deciding an election issue of concern in rural areas, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that post office box addresses can be enough for Arizona voters signing candidates’ nominating petitions.

The unanimous opinion issued Tuesday explained the reasoning behind an earlier order allowing state Sen. Albert Hale, D-Window Rock, to stay on the September primary election ballot.

Many rural residents don’t have street addresses and use post office boxes, and that’s particularly true in the wide-open spaces of places like Hale’s District 2, which includes the Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona.

The Supreme Court said use of only a post office box by a person signing a nominating petition doesn’t automatically disqualify signatures. The key is whether there’s enough information to tell whether signers are registered voters, the ruling said.

McCain, Obama to silence critical ads

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Presidential contenders Barack Obama and John McCain plan to pull ads on Sept. 11 that criticize each other, a respite from the political fray to honor the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks.

The campaigns made their decision known on the same day that a group backing community service on that day called on the candidates to refrain from partisan campaigning. The group, MyGoodDeed.org, wants Sept. 11 to become a national day of voluntary service and asked that Obama and McCain perform acts of community service instead.