On September 24, Gallup released its poll on whether the U.S. would be better off with a major new political party. Gallup does this poll approximately once per year. The new poll shows 58% in favor. The all-time high was 60%, from last year’s poll.
According to this story, after the November 2014 election, the Arizona Republican Party will study whether to seek a closed primary for itself. Under Arizona law, all parties with primaries must let independents into their primary. According to the story, 21% of the votes cast in the 2014 Republican primary were cast by independent voters.
On September 24, WBUR released a poll for the Massachusetts gubernatorial race. The results: Democrat Martha Coakley 43%; Republican Charlie Baker 34%; United Independent Party Evan Falchuk 2%; independent Jeff McCormick 1%; independent Scott Lively less than 1%; undecided or refused 20%. See here for more detail. Scroll down to page seven for the results.
These results suggest that the United Independent Party will not achieve party status on election day, because Falchuk needs 3% of the vote to do that. Chances are the only ballot-qualified party in Massachusetts after November 2014 will be the Democratic, Republican, and Green Parties. The Green Party is not now ballot-qualified but is very likely to poll at least 3% for one of the three lesser statewide offices. Thanks to PoliticalWire for the link.
George F. Will’s September 24 column concerns the U.S. Senate race in Kansas. Will seems virtually to say that if he were a Kansan, he would vote for Orman. He also has an interesting analysis of Orman’s promise that he won’t cast a vote for Majority Leader of the Senate if that votes changes the outcome. Thanks to Sam Edelen for the link.
On September 24, the Sixth Circuit issued a 46-page opinion in Ohio State Conference of the NAACP v Husted, 14-3877. The opinion says that a U.S. District Court was correct when it enjoined Ohio election officials from cutting back the number of days on which voters may cast early votes.
In 2014, the Ohio legislature passed a bill that eliminated early voting during the first week in October, and also eliminated early voting on the Sunday and Monday before general election day. That law is now enjoined. Both the U.S. District Court and the Sixth Circuit rely partly on section 2 of the federal voting rights act. Section 2, which was not used very much until recently, prevents any state or other jurisdiction from discriminating against racial or ethnic minorities in voting. The court decisions cite evidence that African-American voters disproportionately use early voting.
The Sixth Circuit opinion is by Judge Karen Moore, a Clinton appointee. It is co-signed by Judge Eric Clay, another Clinton appointee, and Damon Keith, a Carter appointee.
The first week in October is important, because during that period, voters who are not registered may register.
