Steve Hill has this op-ed piece in the New York Times, suggesting that the best voting system for Egypt, assuming Egypt moves toward truly free elections, is proportional representation. Thanks to Michael Feinstein for the link.
On February 17, the West Virginia Judiciary Committee passed HB 2378, the National Popular Vote Plan bill. Although the vote was by voice, it appeared that approximately 20 “aye” votes were cast, and only about two or three “nay” votes. See this story.
A U.S. District Court in Montana will hold a status conference in Kelly v McCulloch on March 25, 2011. This is the case that challenges Montana’s March petition deadline for non-presidential independent candidates. The lawsuit had been filed on April 8, 2008. On February 3, 2010, U.S. District Court Judge Sam Haddon had ruled that the plaintiffs lack standing. However, on December 10, 2010, the 9th circuit had reversed that ruling, and had said the plaintiffs do have standing. Now the case returns to U.S. District Court for a decision on the merits.
On February 16, the Oklahoma Senate Rules Committee passed SB 602. The bill moves the primary (not the presidential primary) from July to June. It also moves the deadline for a new or previously unqualified party to submit a petition from May 1 to March 1. That deadline, combined with a very high number of signatures, is almost certainly unconstitutional. All reported decisions, on the constitutionality of deadlines for new parties to qualify, that are earlier than May, have unanimously held that deadlines earlier than May are unconstitutional.
On February 16, the Montana State House Administration Committee tabled HB 205. This bill would have required presidential candidates’ birth certificates to be submitted.
Also, on February 14, the Arizona Judiciary Committee defeated SB 1526, another bill to require that presidential candidates’ birth certificates be submitted, in order for them to be on the ballot. The vote was 3-5. This bill had been introduced by Senator Ron Gould (R-Lake Havasu City). An identical bill in the Arizona House, HB 2335, is pending in the House Judiciary Committee.
The Maryland Senate Education, Health & Environmental Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on March 10, at 1 pm, on SB 630. This is the bill that says a signature on a petition is valid, even if the signature is not an exact match with how the voter’s name is listed on voter registration forms.