South Carolina American Party Changes its Name to Alliance Party

Posted on by February 28, 2019
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On December 17, 2018, the ballot-qualified American Party of South Carolina asked the State Election Commission to record that it had changed its name to the Alliance Party.  The request was approved.  South Carolina is one of the states that has always permitted parties to change their names.

The South Carolina Alliance Party is among those working to create an Alliance Party throughout the other states as well.  It is a centrist party.  Here is its national web page.  Thanks to Peter Gemma for this news.

Ohio Bill to Move Primaries in Presidential Election Years from March to May

Posted on by February 27, 2019
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Ohio Representative Jack Cera (D-Bellaire) has introduced HB 101.  It moves the primary in presidential years, for all office, from March to May.

Ohio primaries are in May, except in presidential election years, they are in March.  If the bill passed, it would automatically move the non-presidential independent candidate petition deadline (in presidential years) from March to May.  Thanks to FrontloadingHQ for this news.

New Mexico Bill for Semi-Closed Primaries Passes Senate Rules Committee

Posted on by February 28, 2019
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On February 27, the New Mexico Senate Rules Committee passes SB 418.  Originally the bill said that major parties (the parties that nominate by primary) must allow independent voters to vote in their primaries, or else those parties must pay for their own primaries.

New Mexico is not in the 8th circuit, but there is an 8th circuit precedent that says if a state requires a party to nominate by primary, then the government must pay the election administration costs of that primary.  Republican Party of Arkansas v Faulkner, 49 F 3d 1289 (1995).

The Senate Rules Committee amended the bill.  It no longer threatens any party that the government will no longer pay for its primaries.  Instead it provides that any party entitled to a primary can decide for itself whether to let independents vote in its primaries.

Washington State Senate Passes Bill to Replace “Disobedient” Presidential Electors

Posted on by February 27, 2019
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On February 26, the Washington State Senate passed SB 5074 by 26-20.  It says that if a presidential elector votes for someone other than the person who received the most popular votes in the state, then that person is deemed to have resigned and will be replaced by someone chosen by the other electors.

It seems peculiar for the legislature to pass this bill now, when soon there will be a decision from the Washington State Supreme Court on whether the U.S. Constitution does permits states to punish presidential electors for voting in unexpected ways.