Connecticut holds a special election on January 13, 2026, to fill the vacant 139th State House seat. The Independent Party is ballot-qualified for that office. However, its nominee was removed from the ballot because he submitted a photocopy of his signature on a form, instead of the original. See this story.
Independent Indiana, a new group, will lobby to eliminate the straight-ticket device that Indiana has had since 1889. It will also work for easier ballot access. See this story.
On December 15, President Trump sued the BBC for slander and libel. The case is filed in U.S. District Court in Florida. Trump v BBC, s.d., 1:25cv-25894. No judge has been assigned to the case yet. Here is the Complaint.
UPDATE: the case is assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Roy Altman, a Trump appointee.
This Politico story explores the possibility that the California top-two system might create a November 2026 ballot with only two Republicans on the ballot for Governor. The story does not mention the idea that the legislature could amend the election law to legalize write-in voting in general elections for top-two offices. California already has write-in space for other types of elections.
On December 11, the Utah Forward Party announced that its private on-line election had chosen Emily Buss to be the new State Senator for the Eleventh District. See this story. The party’s previous State Senator had resigned. Under Utah law, the party had the power to replace him. The Forward Party set up a voting system for all voters in the district to choose the party’s new Senator. Five members of the Forward Party sought the job, and 1,301 voters in the district participated. Any registered voter was free to participate. Approval voting was used.
