Seventeen States File Amicus Brief in Florida Lawsuit Over Residency of Petition Circulators

Posted on by October 17, 2025
4

On October 15, seventeen states, all with Republican Attorneys General, filed am amicus brief in the Eleventh Circuit in Florida Decides Healthcare v Byrd, 25-12370. The issue is Florida’s ban on out-of-state petitioners for initiatives. The states are Alabama, Alaska, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia. They argue that states should be able to ban out-of-state circulators.

Nine of these states don’t even have the statewide initiative process. One wonders why they care about this issue. Of those that do have the initiative process, only North Dakota has a ban on oout-of-state circulators for initiatives.

The Arizona legislature also signed the brief.

Indiana College Student Voters Win Procedural Point in U.S. District Court on Photo ID Issued by Educational Institutions

Posted on by October 16, 2025
Reply

On October 14, U.S. District Court Judge Richard L. Young, a Clinton appointee, refused to dismiss Count Us In v Morales, s.d., 1:25cv-864. The lawsuit challenges a 2025 law that says photo ID issued by educational institutions no longer will satisfy the voter photo ID requirement. Here is the ruling. The case will continue after a trial. The ruling says the evidence will show whether the legislature had an intent to discriminate against college students.

Arkansas State Court Hears Argument in Case Over Timing of Special Legislative Election

Posted on by October 16, 2025
2

On October 15, an Arkansas state trial court heard arguments in Shelby v Sanders, Pulaski County Circuit Court, 60cv-25-12172. An Arkansas State Senator representing District 26 died on September 2, and Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders called a special election to fill the vacancy for June 9, 2026, leaving the seat vacant for more than nine months. A vote sued, arguing that the State Constitution requires an earlier special election. A decision is expected quickly. See this story.