Federal court work will be somewhat slowed, due to the federal government partial shutdown. See this story from The Hill.
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On October 16, the U.S. Supreme Court removed Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians v Howe from its November 7 conference. This is the case on North Dakota legislative redistricting. The lower court had ruled that the case couldn’t even be considered because only the federal government can file lawsuits using the Voting Rights Act. Probably the U.S. Supreme Court won’t consider whether to hear the North Dakota case until after it decides the pending Louisiana districting case.
In other U.S. Supreme Court news, the court will hear oral argument in National Republican Senatorial Committee v Federal Election Commission on December 9. This is the case over the federal campaign finance law that restricts political party spending.
As of October 17, the Speaker of the U.S. House is still refusing to swear in Adelita Grijalva, who was elected to Congress in a special Arizona election on September 23. In 1966 the U.S. House speaker had similarly refused to swear in Adam Clayton Powell, who had been re-elected from New York. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1969 that the House had been wrong to refuse to seat him. Here is a description of Powell v McCormack, 395 US 486.
On October 16, the highest state court in New York, the State Court of Appeals, issued an opinion in County of Onondaga v State of New York, case number 66. Here is the opinion.
New York will still hold elections in November of odd years, but only for elections for Supreme Court Justice and city office.
On October 16, the Georgia House Election Procedures Committee heard testimony from members of the public about ideas for improving election laws. Brian Allen, a Georgia Libertarian, asked the committee to ease ballot access petitions. See this story in the Augusta Press, which mentions his testimony.
The Georgia legislature is not now in session, so there are no bills pending.