On August 28, the reply briefs were filed from both sides in Cowen v Raffensperger, n.d., 1:17cv-4660. This is the case that challenges the Georgia law that requires a petition of 5% of the registered voters for the nominees of a party that didn’t poll as much as 20% of the vote in the last election for Governor or President. The Libertarian Party filed this case in 2017.
Here is the Libertarian Party brief.
Here is the state’s brief.
On August 25, the California Democratic Party Executive Board endorsed Proportional Representation. The resolution says, in part, “Therefore be it resolved that the California Democratic Party supports the institution of proportional representation and multi-member districts to foster greater electoral representation, provide equity to minority discourses, and increase the diversity of our elected officials.”
Here is a link to all the resolutions adopted on August 25. The proportional representation resolution is Resolution 19-05.167. Scroll down. Thanks to Steve Chessin for this news.
Moscow, Russia holds an election for city council on September 8. The independent candidates, who were required to submit a petition of 3% of the electorate, have been kept off the ballot. That has led to extensive street protests. In an interview with the Associated Press, Ella Pamfilova, head of the Central Election Commission for the nation, says that the requirements will be eased in the future. See this story.
Saul Anuzis, a former Michigan Republican state chair, and Michael Steele, a former chair of the national Republican Party, here write that Republicans ought to support the National Popular Vote Plan.
On August 28, U.S. District Court Judge Emily C. Marks, a Trump appointee, issued an opinion in Libertarian Party of Alabama v Merrill, m.d., 2:19cv-69. The issue is whether the state violates the Constitution by its policy of giving a free list of the registered voters to qualified parties, but charging approximately $34,000 for unqualified parties. The state had filed a motion to dismiss the case. The judge refused to do that, and cleared the way for a trial on the issue. Here is the nine-page order.
