Wisconsin State Senator Mark Miller (D-Monona) and Representative Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit) are about to introduce a bill to use ranked choice voting for federal, state, and local office in the state, excluding recall elections. The bills don’t have numbers yet, but here is the text. They apply to president.
On December 12, a state supreme court judge in Niagara County heard arguments in Hurley v Public Campaign Financing & Election Commission, and Jastrzemski v Public Campaign Financing & Election Commission. These are the two similar lawsuits that argue the New York legislature cannot delegate to a commission the power to revise the ballot access laws. The Hurley case was filed by the Working Families Party and is case E169547-2019. The Jastrzemski case was filed by the Conservative Party and is E169561-2019.
Here is a news story about the hearing. Thanks to Jim Riley for the link. UPDATE: also see this Buffalo News story.
On December 12, U.S. District Court Judge Clark Waddoups, a Bush Jr. appointee, ruled that persons born in American Samoa cannot be deprived of birthright citizenship. Here is the 69-page opinion in Fitisemanu v USA, 1:18cv-36. The case is in Utah because the plaintiffs live in Utah. This is the first time a court had ruled this way in a case on this issue. Thanks to Thomas Jones for this news.
This New York Times story says President Trump is discussing with his advisors whether to skip the general election debates. Thanks to Political Wire for the link.
On December 12, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed A2047/S5974. The bills had passed the legislature on June 20. They make it legally impossible for a qualified party to change its name. Previously, newly-qualifying parties were permitted to change their names, and the law was silent about whether old parties could change their names. Here is the text. Thanks to Joe Burns for this news.
