On May 31, the Illinois legislature passed SB 825, which moves the 2022 primary from March to June. The bill also shifts the petitioning period for independent candidates and the nominees of unqualified parties. It provides that the petitioning period for them will be April 13 to July 13. Thanks to Sam Cahnman for this news.
Probably almost everyone who reads BAN already understands what gerrymandering is, but even so, this three-minute youtube by Adam Conover explaining gerrymandering is worth watching. Thanks to the Texas Libertarian Party for the link.
On June 1, Florida filed this brief in U.S. District Court in Hetherington v Lee, n.d., 3:21cv-671. This is the case over the ban on candidates for non-partisan office proclaiming their party affiliation. The brief says if candidates could announce their party affiliation, that would confuse the voters because then the voters would be confused when their saw their ballot for that office lacks any party labels.
Last month, Florida enacted a ban on anyone contributing more than $3,000 to a campaign for an initiative, or to a campaign to help get an initiative on the ballot. The ACLU and Fairvote and several other groups immediately sued to overturn the law.
On June 1, the plaintiffs filed this brief in support of their motion for injunctive relief against the new law. ACLU of Florida v Lee, n.d., 4:21cv-190. The case is assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor.
On June 1, New Mexico held a special election to fill the vacancy in U.S. House district one. Here is a link to the Secretary of State’s unofficial returns.
Democratic 60.26%; Republican 35.74%; independent 2.68%; Libertarian 1.32%.
Last time this seat was up, the results were: Democratic 58.19%; Republican 40.81%.
