The California legislature has passed SB 27, the bill to require presidential primary candidates to reveal the last five years of income tax returns. Any day now, the bill will be delivered to Governor Gavin Newsom, who then has 12 days to decide whether to sign or veto the bill, or let it become law without his signature.
On July 17, the Ohio legislature passed HB 166. It moves the primary in presidential years to the third Tuesday after the third Monday in March. Assuming the Governor signs the bill, the 2020 primary for all office will be March 17, not March 10. This also moves the non-presidential independent deadline from March 9 to March 16. Thanks to Josh Putnam for this news.
The Arkansas Secretary of State has validated the Constitution Party’s petition for presidential ballot status. The Arkansas petition for a party to be on for president only requires 1,000 signatures. Such petitions need not carry the names of the party’s eventual nominees.
The North Dakota Libertarian Party went off the ballot in November 2018 for failing to poll 5% for either Secretary of State or Attorney General. In order to get back on, it needs 7,000 valid signatures. The party is circulating that petition and is approximately half-finished.
The Mississippi Constitution says all elections for statewide state office require the winner to win a majority of the popular vote, and also to carry a majority of state house districts. If no candidate does that, then the state legislature chooses the office-holder.
On May 30, several African-American voters filed a federal lawsuit against that system. McLemore v Hosemann, s.d., 3:19cv-383. The state has filed a motion to dismiss, which is pending. Thanks to Election Law Blog for this news.
