On Wednesday, December 5, U.S. District Court Judge Lance Walker heard arguments in Baber v Dunlap, 1:18cv-465. This is the case in which some Maine voters, and Congressman Bruce Poliquin, argue that ranked choice voting violates the U.S. Constitution. See this story. Judge Walker promised a ruling by next week. The plaintiffs argue that ranked choice voting discriminates against the voters who voted for candidates who placed third and fourth.

The Ninth Circuit expects to set an oral argument in March 2019 for De La Fuente v Wyman, 18-35208. This is a Washington state ballot access lawsuit. Rocky De La Fuente won in U.S. District Court, in his challenge to a state law that requires petitioners for independent presidential candidates to publish a notice in a newspaper at least ten days before they start to petition. The notice must say where the petitioning will be carried out. The state is trying to overturn the U.S. District Court decision.

Also, the Ninth Circuit has moved the date for the oral argument in the Arizona Libertarian ballot access case away from February. It will be in March, or possible a later month. This is Libertarian Party of Arizona v Reagan, 17-16491, a challenge to the number of signatures needed to get a member of a small qualified party on his or her primary ballot. This is the law that kept all Libertarians off the November 2018 Arizona ballot. The law did not apply to the Green Party.

On December 5, New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner was re-elected Secretary of State for another two years. The New Hampshire Secretary of State is elected by the legislature. Gardner needed 209 votes and he received 209 votes. Two ballots were required. See this story.