On January 30, the Maryland Libertarian Party filed this reply brief in Johnston v Lamone, 1:18cv-3988. This is the case on whether it is constitutional to force an unqualified party that has over 10,000 registered members to submit a petition of 10,000 names. The Libertarian Party has over 22,000 registered members, and argues that a petition of 10,000 names would prove nothing, because it is obvious that there are already over 10,000 people who support the party.

Even if you don’t normally read legal briefs, this is one clear, short, and even somewhat entertaining.

Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) has introduced SB 141, which would lower the number of signatures needed for independent candidates, and the nominees of unqualified parties. It would change the statewide requirement from 25,000 to 5,000. It would change the district and partisan county offices from 5% of the last vote cast, to the number that a member of the largest party in that district needs to get on the primary ballot.

For U.S. House, in the typical district, that would be slightly less than 1,000 signatures.

Somewhat similar bills have been introduced in the past in Illinois and didn’t pass, but they were sponsored by Republicans. This is the first such bill to have a Democratic sponsor. Illinois Democrats are the majority in each house of the legislature, and Illinois has a Democratic governor. Thanks to Sam Cahnman for the news about the bill.

On January 10, the Kentucky Senate passed SB 5, which is a proposed constitutional amendment. It would move elections for the statewide state executive positions, including Governor, from the odd years before presidential election years, to presidential election years. If it passes the legislature, the voters would vote on the idea in 2020.

The only states that now elect their Governor in odd years are Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia.