On January 3, the North Carolina Constitution Party filed a federal lawsuit against a state campaign finance law that does not let individuals donate as much money to an unqualified party as to a qualified party. Constitution Party of N.C. v Strach, w.d., 3:18cv-6. It is assigned to Judge Graham Mullen, a Bush Sr. appointee. Here is the Complaint.

The U.S. Supreme Court has made a clear that the only constitutional justification for limits on donations to political parties is to prevent bribery and corruption. The more power a political party has, the more justification there is to limit donations, according to the Court. So it makes no sense for any state to set a lower limit for parties with virtually no political power, compared to limits on the major parties.

Florida does not permit ex-felons to register to vote, unless the Governor restores that individual’s voting rights. A proposed Florida constitutional amendment is circulating to let ex-felons register, if they are off parole or probation. The initiative excludes persons convicted of murder or certain sexual offenses.

The initiative needs 766,200 valid signatures. It currently has 638,343 signatures that have already been validated. The organizers of the petition drive believe they need another 130,000 signatures to be safe, and they hope to obtain them by February 1, so the initiative can go on the November 2018 ballot. See this story. Thanks to Michael Drucker for this news.

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear Minnesota Voters Alliance v Mansky, 16-1435, on Wednesday, February 28. This is the case that challenges the Minnesota law that makes it illegal to wear any clothing with a political message, or any attachment to clothing with a political message, at the polls.