San Francisco Court Hearing on Top-Two Case Will be in Person

Posted on by October 8, 2026
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U.S. District Court Judge Maxine Chesney will hold a hearing on Friday, October 23, in Peace & Freedom Party v Weber, n.d., 3:24cv-8308, in San Francisco. This is the lawsuit in which four minor parties challenge the California top-two system. The courthouse is at 450 Golden Gate Ave. The courtroom for Judge Chesney is on the 19th floor. The hearing is at eleven a.m. Anyone attending a federal court hearing needs to go through a metal detector, so it is best to arrive somewhat early in case there is a line to get through the metal detector.

The Courthouse is near the BART Civic Center Station.

New York Might Get a New Ballot-Qualified Party, “Vote Affordable”

Posted on by October 7, 2026
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Earlier this year, the Republican gubernatorial nominee in New York, Bruce Blakeman, arranged for a petition to qualify himself as the nominee of the “Vote Affordable” Party. Several other Republican candidates for for legislative office completed petitions under the same name for their own races as well.

It is possible Blakeman will receive a vote total on the Vote Affordable line equal to 2% or more of the vote cast for Governor. If he does, that party would become a qualified party.

Fourth Circuit Hears Case on North Carolina’s Law that Criminalizes Taking a Selfie of One’s Voted Ballot

Posted on by October 6, 2026
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On September 15, the Fourth Circuit heard oral argument in Hogarth v Bell, 26-1328. This is the case challenging North Carolina’s law that makes it a crime for a voter to take a picture of his or her voted ballot. Here is a link to a recording of the argument. The three judges were A. Marvin Quattlebaum, Allison Rushing, and DeAndrea Benjamin.

The U.S. District Court had upheld the law. The plaintiff is Susan Hogarth, an activist in the Libertarian Party.