On July 22, U.S. District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal, an Obama appointee, struck down Wyoming’s 300-foot “no politics” zone around polling places on election day. Frank v Buchanan, 2:20cv-138.

Here is the 16-page order. One of the plaintiffs wanted to circulate petitions at the polling place, but 300 feet is such a long distance, the law made that almost impossible. The order also strikes down the ban on large bumper stickers on cars that are parked near the polling place.

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a 100-foot zone in 1992, but generally when states require bigger zones, courts strike them down. Thanks to Trent Pool for this news.

On July 27, the First Circuit heard We the People PAC v Bellows, 21-1149. The issue is Maine’s ban on out-of-state circulators for initiatives, and also the parallel requirement that the circulators must be registered in the town or city they are working in. The judges are William Kayatta and David Barron (Obama appointees) and U.S. District Court Judge Patti Saris (a Clinton appointee). When there is news about how the hearing went, it will be posted here.

The Nation has this article about the elimination of most Working Families Party nominees in the New York city election of November 2, 2021. The WFP nominees are almost entirely also individuals who are Democratic nominees. Their inability to appear on the WFP line relates to a technicality about electronic candidacy forms.