Florida Initiative for a Top-Two System is About to Start Circulating

Posted on by March 10, 2019
14

Florida initiatives need 766,200 valid signatures to obtain a place on the November 2020 ballot. Before the petition starts to circulate, the backers submit a copy of their proposal. Two initiatives for a top-two system have submitted their proposal to the Secretary of State. One applies to congress and one to state and local partisan office. This post has been updated; the original post said the petition was further along than it is. Thanks to Jim Riley for the correction.

The initiative is backed by several wealthy individuals, including attorney Eugene Stearns, and businessmen Carlos de la Cruz and Mike Fernandez. Initiatives need 60% of the popular vote in order to pass. If the measure gets on the ballot in 2020 and gets at least 60% of the vote, it would take effect in 2024. Thanks to Steve Kamp for this news.

Inititiative Launched to Convert St. Louis City Elections from Partisan to Non-Partisan

Posted on by March 9, 2019
1

A group in St. Louis, Missouri, has launched a city initiative to convert the city’s elections for its own officers from partisan to non-partisan elections. The initiative proposes an election, followed by a runoff election if no one gets 50% in the election. The election would use approval voting, letting voters vote for as many candidates for any particular office as they wish. The initiative needs signatures equal to 10% of the registered voters, which would be approximately 22,000 signatures. Thanks to Ken Bush for this news.

New Registration Data for New Jersey

Posted on by March 9, 2019
7

The New Jersey Elections Division has posted the registration by party as of February 28, 2019. Since the September 30, 2018 tally, every party except the Republican Party has gained in share of the registration. The share of voters registered independent declined slightly.

The new percentages are: Democratic 37.44%; Republican 21.64%; Libertarian .21%; Constitution .18%; Conservative .18%; Green .14%; Socialist .08%; Natural Law .07%; Reform .022%; independent 40.04%.

Percentages as of September 30, 2018 were: Democratic 37.39%; Republican 21.72%; Libertarian .18%; Constitution .15%; Conservative .15%; Green .12%; Socialist .07%; Natural Law .06%; Reform .018%; independent 40.14%.

The Constitution Party’s new total, 10,968, is the highest state total for that party in any state, except Nevada.

New Mexico Senate Rules Committee Hold Sunday Hearings on National Popular Vote and Automatic Voter Registration Bills

Posted on by March 9, 2019
3

The New Mexico Senate Rules Committee is holding a Sunday hearing, March 10. It will hear HB 55, the National Popular Vote Plan bill. It will also hear HB 84, the bill for automatic voter registration. Thanks to Rick Lass for this news. This post has been updated; originally the hearing for these bills was on Saturday, March 9.

Filing Closes for North Carolina Special Election, U.S. House

Posted on by March 8, 2019
4

On March 8, filing closed for the North Carolina special election, U.S. House, district three. Candidates from four parties filed: 17 Republicans, 6 Democrats, 2 Libertarians, and one Constitution Party member. Here is the list.

The Constitution Party nominates by convention; the other parties by primary. The primary will be April 30. If any primary results in no one winning at least 30%, there will be a run-off primary on July 9.