The National Democratic Committee’s Rules & Bylaws Committee met in Washington, D.C., January 19-20, to start reviewing ideas for changes in the 2020 presidential selection process. See this story. The Committee will be reviewing ideas of the Democratic Unity Commission, which had recommended fewer superdelegates, and had urged the party’s state legislators to do everything in their power to create same-day voter registration, or automatic voter registration, in the states that don’t have either process. Also the Democratic Unity Commission recommended that states like New York and Delaware have more relaxed deadlines for voters to switch parties.

On Sunday, January 21, the Texas Republican Party filed a lawsuit in state court to remove 128 Democrats from the Democratic primary ballot in Dallas County. See this story. The Republican Party says there is a paperwork flaw with the filings. The case is Dallas County Republican Party v Dallas County Democratic Party, Dallas District Court, DC-18-821. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.

Ohio Representative Niraj Antani (R-Miamisburg) has introduced HJR 5, a proposed state constitutional amendment. Current law requires a petition of 10% of the last gubernatorial vote to get a constitutional initiative on the ballot, and 6% for a statute. The proposal would raise these to 12.5% and 7.5%.

Also the measure would say that neither type of initiative could pass unless it received a popular vote of at least 60%. Currently a majority is enough.

The proposal would also make it illegal to pay petition circulators. However, in 1988 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously in Meyer v Grant that states are not permitted to outlaw the practice of paying circulators. Thanks to Steve Linnabary for this news.