Virginia Recount Changes the Identity of the Winner in One Legislative Election

Posted on by December 19, 2017
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Virginia elected a new House of Delegates on November 7, 2017. The initial results in the 94th district were: Republican David Yancey 11,601; Democrat Shelly A. Simonds 11,591; Libertarian Michael D. Bartley 675.

The recount was completed on November 19. The new results reverse the identity of the winner. News reports say that both major party nominees gained votes, and the new results are: Democratic 11,608; Republican 11,607. The news stories do not say if the Libertarian vote total changed. For example, see this story.

As a result of the recount, the lineup in the 2018-2019 session of the House will be 50 Republicans, 50 Democrats. The two parties will probably agree to share leadership of the House. Thanks to several people for the link.

U.S. House Republicans from the Top-Two States Vote “Yes” on Tax Cut Bill by Margin of Sixteen to Two

Posted on by December 19, 2017
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On December 19, the U.S. House of Representatives passed HR 1, the tax bill. There are eighteen Republicans in the U.S. House from the two states that use the top-two system. Of those eighteen Republicans from California and Washington, all but two voted “Yes” on the bill. Here is the roll call. The two Republicans who voted against it are Dana Rohrabacher and Darrell Issa, both from southern California.

The vote must be re-done, due to a problem with the bill. The re-vote will be December 20. All Democrats voted against the bill.

Supporters of top-two system argue that in a top-two system, elected politicians vote without regard to the will of “party bosses” and instead vote in accordance with popular opinion. However, generally, that did not happen on December 19. All of the Republicans in open primary states voted for the bill. In New York, which has closed primaries, five Republicans voted against the bill; in New Jersey, which has closed primaries (except independents can join a party on primary day if they wish to vote in a primary), four of the five Republicans voted against the bill; in North Carolina, which has semi-closed primaries, one Republican voted against the bill.

This outcome confirms what political science research has shown: type of primary system does not change how elected politicians behave.

Maine Referendum to Save Ranked-Choice Voting is Two-Thirds Finished

Posted on by December 19, 2017
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Maine supporters of ranked-choice voting believe they are two-thirds finished collecting enough signatures to put ranked-choice voting on the 2018 primary ballot. The voters already passed an initiative for ranked-choice voting in 2016, but in 2017 the legislature virtually repealed it. The current petition, if it gets 61,123 valid signatures, will suspend the legislature’s action, at least until there is another vote of the people. The petition deadline is February 2.

Texas Secretary of State Says if Republican Party Leaves Congressman Farenthold Off its Candidate List, Then He Won’t Appear on the 2018 Primary Ballot

Posted on by December 19, 2017
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A hearing was held on December 19 in Republican Party of Texas v Pablos in federal court in Austin. The issue was whether Congressman Blake Farenthold could remove his name from the March 2018 Republican primary ballot. He is an incumbent member of Congress. He filed for re-election, but the next day he decided to withdraw. However, he was one day too late to withdraw, so the Republican Party filed the lawsuit to enable him to withdraw.

In court, attorneys for the Texas Secretary of State said if the Republican Party leaves Farenthold off its list of candidates, then Farenthold will not appear on the primary ballot. The Secretary of State hasn’t yet received the official list of Republican Party candidates; it is due December 19 (today). So the Republican Party withdrew its lawsuit, and presumably is submitting a list that excludes Farenthold.

Alabama Write-in Votes for U.S. Senate Will All be Counted

Posted on by December 19, 2017
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Alabama write-ins for U.S. Senate will all be counted and canvassed, according to this story. This will be the first time Alabama has ever included write-in totals for any statewide office in its official canvass. Although Alabama has always permitted write-ins, and counties were supposed to count them, historically they have not been counted. And even in recent years when most counties did canvass write-ins, the Secretary of State would never release a statewide total for any write-in candidate. Without an official state tally, the publications that publish election returns would always refuse to include Alabama write-ins.

Even when Harry Truman was off the Alabama November 1948 ballot, and even when Lyndon Johnson was off the November 1964 ballot, Alabama election officials did not release any write-in totals for either candidate, or for any Democratic candidates for presidential elector. Alabama is the only state in the last 100 years which reported zero votes for either a Democratic or a Republican presidential nominee in a general election. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.