On May 7, U.S. District Court Judge Joi Elizabeth Peake issued an order in Crowell v Bipartisan State Election Board of North Carolina, m.d., 1:17cv-515. This is the case over North Carolina’s law that does not permit independent voters to serve on the state election board, or on any county election board. The judge ruled that discovery should begin over whether the plaintiff has standing. That will depend on whether he is “willing and able” to serve. Presumably he will be able to show that he is willing and able to serve. This case was filed in 2017 and is one of the oldest election law cases still pending in trial court.

On May 11, the Texas House passed HB 1987 by 103-42. It prohibits candidates for public office from being officers of a political party. The bill only applies to parties that nominate by primary. The Libertarian Party of Texas worked hard to get the bill amended so that it doesn’t apply to convention parties. Here is the text. Thanks to Jim Riley for this news.

California holds a special election on June 29 to fill the vacancy in the Assembly, 18th district, in Alameda County. The ballot will list six Democrats, one Republican, and one Socialist Workers Party candidate, Joel Britton. However, due to unfair California laws, Britton’s ballot label will be “Party preference: none.”