Generally speaking, it is easy to know or predict the date of every state’s presidential primary in 2020, except for New York. The statute says the New York 2020 presidential primary will be on February 4, but that is very unlikely to stand. Both major parties refuse to recognize primaries earlier than March 3, except for the New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries. Everyone expects the New York legislature to pass a bill this year setting a March date, but so far no bill is pending.
History Professor James Coll has this op-ed in the Albany Times-Union, criticizing his own state’s ballot access laws.
His op-ed does not mention that earlier this year, the New York legislature moved the independent candidate petition deadline from August to May.
On March 28, the New Hampshire Senate passed SB 8, to create an independent redistricting commission to draw lines for congressional and legislative districts. A similar bill has already passed in the House.
Lee Drutman has this article at VOX, advocating ranked choice voting for U.S. presidential elections.
See here for information about Drutman. Thanks to June Genis for the VOX link.
On March 28, the Hawaii House passed SB 94. It requires general election presidential candidates to post their latest income tax return on a web page. It also forbids presidential electors from voting for someone who hasn’t posted tax returns.
The bill passed on Second Reading, with 8 no votes. This means it will almost surely pass on Third Reading very soon. UPDATE: the vote is set for April 1.
