The Federal Election Commission has just published an updated version of “Combined Federal/State Disclosure and Election Directory”. This free book has the contact information for state election administration offices. Here is a link to the on-line version. Thanks to Thomas Jones for this news. The book is usually 150 pages.
On the evening of Thursday, July 9, a Texas state trial court refused to order the city of Houston to allow the Republican Party to hold an in-person state convention in Houston. See this story. The convention is supposed to start on Thursday, July 16. The party is appealing to the Texas Supreme Court.
On July 10, the Democratic National Committee announced that delegates to the national convention can vote electronically for president, vice-president, and platform changes. Each delegate will be e-mailed a ballot and that delegate can fill out the ballot and return it electronically. See this story. The voting period will be August 3-15.
There were some Libertarian Party activists who argued that the Libertarian Party needed a physical convention to nominate for president and vice-president, and that to go without a physical meeting risked breaking the election laws of a few states. The Democratic Party decision seems to show that those fears were groundless. Thanks to Michael Drucker for this news.
The Libertarian Party held the first half of its national convention in late May, and nominated for president and vice-president virtually. It then set a second meeting for July 10-12 in Orlando, Florida, to elect party officers. On Saturday, July 11, it elected a new national chair, Joseph Bishop-Henchman. It also re-elected its Treasurer. It will vote on Sunday for Vice-Chair, Secretary, and national committee, and judicial committee if there is time.
The July convention included virtual delegates voting electronically, but over 300 delegates chose to attend in person. The room for the meeting was exceedingly large, which made social distancing feasible.
On the evening of July 10, U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. McShane granted ballot access relief for Oregon statewide initiatives. The order was issued orally and is not yet in writing. Oregon statewide initiatives this year needed almost 150,000 valid signatures by early July. The plaintiffs have collected 64,000 signatures. They want more time and a lower petition requirement. The judge said he will grant relief, but he wants the Secretary of State to propose some relief by Monday, July 13. See this story. The case is People Not Politicians v Clarno, 6:20cv-1053.
This is the third state inside the Ninth Circuit in which a U.S. District Court has granted ballot access relief to initiatives. The others are in Idaho and Nevada. The Nevada Secretary of State is not appealing, but the Idaho Secretary of State is appealing. Thanks to Thomas Jones for the news.
