On November 30, all the full-time judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit, heard Libertarian National Committee v Federal Election Commission. This is a challenge to the federal campaign law that won’t let donors leave large bequests to political parties and have that money available to those parties when that donor dies. According to this news story, many of the judges did not seem to believe that the law is unconstitutional.
British Columbia voters have all received postal ballots, asking them if they want proportional representation, and if so, what type. The original deadline for voters to return their ballots was November 30, but that deadline has been extended to December 7. One reason for the extension is that there has been a postal strike.
Free and Equal Elections, which has sponsored general election presidential debates for candidates excluded from the “big” debates, is set for an arbitration process against UCLA. Free and Equal had a contract with UCLA to use the Pauley Pavilion for its May 2014 rally. The rally’s purpose was to expand interest in political participation among young people. The event included many big-name musical and other entertainers, including “Public Enemy”, and thousands of tickets were sold. A few days before the event, UCLA revoked the contract.
The arbitration process starts on June 24, 2019, and will last up to five days, with witnesses.
On November 27, the Ninth Circuit struck down an Alaska campaign finance law that says candidates cannot accept more than $3,000 from people who do not live in Alaska. The U.S. District Court had upheld the law. Thompson v Hebdon, 17-35019. The decision also upholds other Alaska campaign finance laws, including a $500 limit on individual contributions to any particular candidate for state or local office. Here is the decision. Thanks to Rick Hasen for this news.
On November 30, a 3-judge U.S. District Court issued a 54-page opinion in League of Women Voters v Johnson, e.d., 2:17cv-14148. This is the lawsuit filed in 2017 against the state’s U.S. House and state legislative district boundaries. The new opinion allows a trial. If the districts are struck down as gerrymanders, the only effect would be for the 2020 election. Thanks to Thomas Jones for this news. Here is the opinion.
