U.S. District Court Cuts Georgia Petitions for Minor Party and Independent Candidates to 70% of Normal

Posted on by July 9, 2020
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On July 9, U.S. District Court Judge Eleanor L. Ross issued an order in Cooper v Raffensperger, n.d., 1:20cv-1312. It cuts the number of signatures needed by minor party and independent candidates for all offices to 70% of normal. She wrote that although petitioning in late March through mid-May was virtually impossible, the state reopened in mid-May. She derived the 70% figure by applying the amount of time that was lost. Georgia candidate petitions for the general election must be completed within the six months prior to the deadline.

The state had already moved the petition deadline to August 14, and that was another factor that persuaded her not to offer additional relief.

The presidential petition will now be 5,250 signatures. Here is the 24-page order.

Common Cause Sues to Overturn 2019 Indiana Law that Makes it Almost Impossible to Gain Longer Voting Hours in an Emergency

Posted on by July 9, 2020
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In 2019 the Indiana legislature passed a bill deleting the ability of voters to go to state court, to get an extension of the voting hours when an unforeseen emergency occurs. Indiana is one of only two states that closes the polls as early as 6 p.m. (the other is Kentucky). The new law said only a unanimous vote of the county election board could request an extension.

On July 8, Common Cause Indiana filed a federal lawsuit against the new law. Common Cause Indiana v Lawson, s.d., 1:20cv-1825. Here is the brief.

Some Jacksonville Residents File State Court Lawsuit to Prevent Republican National Convention from Including 15,000 Attendees

Posted on by July 9, 2020
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On July 8, some residents of Jacksonville, Florida, filed a state court lawsuit against the city, arguing that the city must not permit an indoor meeting of 15,000 persons to be held by the Republican Party. The Republican Party’s official convention, for August 24, is in Charlotte, North Carolina; but the speeches with full attendance are set for Jacksonville, August 25-27.

The Republican Party is thinking of holding the Jacksonville meeting outdoors.

The lawsuit is State ex rel Dexter Van Davis v City of Jacksonville, Duval County Circuit Court, 4th judicial district. The lawsuit argues that the indoor meeting with such large attendance would be a threat to the health of nearby residents.