Missouri Representative Dan Stacy (R-Blue Springs) has introduced HB 26. It would add a question on voter registration forms for an applicant to choose a party. It also provides that future primaries in Missouri would be closed. It says that parties that don’t wish to have closed primaries are free to nominate by convention, or by a primary with the election administration expenses paid for by that party.

Currently, Missouri has open primaries, and the voter registration form does not ask about party. Any voter is free to choose any party’s primary ballot. All qualified parties except new parties nominate by primary.

The bill does not say whether voters would be allowed to register into unqualified parties. And the bill drafter seems unaware that the U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled that parties have a constitutional right to invite independent voters into their primaries. That case was Tashjian v Republican Party of Connecticut. Thanks to Ken Bush for this news.

On November 29, the Ninth Circuit asked the attorneys in De La Fuente v Padilla if they are available to participate in oral argument at all times during March 2019. This is the case that challenges the California independent petition requirement for presidential candidates. Current law requires 196,964 valid signatures, to be collected in 105 days. No one has complied with the California law since 1992.

On November 6, the voters of Florida passed an initiative, restoring voting rights to most ex-felons, but not all of them. Under the initiative, certain crimes still prevent ex-felons from registering, such as murder and violent sex crimes. On November 20, the Eleventh Circuit asked both sides in the pending lawsuit Hand v Scott whether any plaintiffs still have any voting rights problem.

The lawsuit challenges the old law and the arbitrary rules concerning ex-felons asking the Governor to restore their voting rights. Both sides must respond by December 5, Wednesday.