Puerto Rico will hold a referendum in November 2020 that asks a single question, whether Puerto Rico should seek statehood. See this story. Although Puerto Rico has had past referenda on its future status, this is the first one that presents only a single question. Thanks to Thomas Jones for the link.
On Saturday, May 16, Justin Amash said he will not seek the Libertarian Party nomination for president. See this story.
Also, see this story.
His campaign is returning donations to his presidential exploratory fund, on request.
On May 15, the Missouri legislature passed SB 631, an omnibus election law bill. Among other things, it raises candidate filing fees. U.S. Senate rises from $200 to $500. U.S. House rises from $100 to $300. State Senate also rises from $100 to $300. State House from $50 to $150. Presidential primary candidate fees rise from $1,000 to $5,000.
May 15 was the last day of the session. Bills that failed to pass include a conversion from open primaries to closed primaries, and measures to make it more difficult to use the initiative process to change the state Constitution. Thanks to Ken Bush for this news.
On May 15, the Second Circuit heard Yang v Kellner, 20-1494. This article describes the 90-minute hearing. The article makes it sound as though all three judges will agree with the U.S. District Court that New York can’t cancel its presidential primary.
On May 15, the Arizona Supreme Court voted 6-1 to deny any petitioning relief for statewide initiatives. See this story. The Court has not yet explained its reasoning.
The only hope for Arizona initiatives this year now rest in the Ninth circuit, in the lawsuit Arizonans for Fair Elections v Hobbs, 20-15719. That lawsuit has a telephone hearing Wednesday, May 20, at 9 a.m.
