Supporters of an initiative in Alaska that would impose a top-four system, and also tighten campaign finance laws, filed a lawsuit in state court on September 5, seeking a court decision that their proposed initiative does not violate the single-subject rule. The Alaska elections division had ruled that the proposed initiative violates the single subject rule, and therefore even if the group gathered enough signatures, it would be invalid.

The Alaska elections division said that campaign finance is a different subject than a top-four system. The proponents say both topics relate to elections, so they are a single subject.

The top-four system would end the ability of parties in Alaska to have nominees (except for president). Instead, all candidates for congress and partisan state office would run in the August primary, and then only the top four could be in the election itself.

The lawsuit is Alaskans for Better Elections v Meyer, in Superior Court, 3rd district, in Anchorage.

On September 11, SB 212 passed the legislature. It now goes to the Governor. It lets non-charter cities and counties use ranked choice voting for elections for their own officers. Currently only charter cities and counties can do that. Thanks to Kevin Sabo for this news.

The Federal Election Commission has just published “Combined Federal/State Disclosure and Election Directory 2019”, a free book that has contact information for election officials in all states. It can be ordered by phoning 800-424-9530. Press “2”. This is the first version since the 2017 version, which had 142 pages.