On October 7, California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed AB 1451, which would have made it illegal to pay circulators on a per-signature basis. It also would have required that at least 10% of the valid signatures be collected by unpaid individuals. See the veto message here. Former Governors Jerry Brown and Arnold Schwarzenegger had also vetoed bills to ban paying per-signature. However, no Democrat in either house of the legislature had voted against AB 1451.
On October 7, the Democratic and Republican candidates for Kentucky Secretary of State spoke and were asked their opinion about a semi-closed primary. The Republican nominee, Michael Adams, said he favors Kentucky’s closed primary, but also he favors letting each party decide that for itself. The Democratic nominee, Heather French Henry, said the issue needs research. See this story.
Henry and Adams are the only candidates for Secretary of State of Kentucky this year. Although the Libertarian Party is on the ballot and has three statewide nominees, it doesn’t have a candidate for Secretary of State. The election is November 5, 2019. Kentucky, Louisiana, and Mississippi are the only states with gubernatorial elections this year.
James R. Adams, the Delaware independent voter who challenged the law that only Republicans and Democrats may be appointed to most of the state courts has filed his brief in the U.S. Supreme Court. He urges the Court not to take the case. Carney v Adams, 19-309. Adams won the case in the Third Circuit. Here is his brief.
On October 7, the Washington state presidential electors who were fined because they voted for someone other than Hillary Clinton filed their cert petition in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Court hasn’t assigned a case number yet. It is Chiafalo v Washington. The State Supreme Court had voted 6-1 that the state was correct to fine each of them $1,000. Here is the filing. It wasn’t due until October 20, but the attorneys finished their product early.
UPDATE: the case is 19-465. The state’s response is due November 8.
On October 7, a U.S. District Court in Florida heard testimony in the lawsuit over the new law that bars ex-felons from registering to vote, unless they have paid all restitution, court costs, and fines. See this story.
The case is Gruver v Barton, n.d., 4:19cv-300. It is before Judge Robert Hinkle, a Clinton appointee.
