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.
This Dakota Free Press story predicts the South Dakota legislature will soon amend a pending election law bill, HB 1012, to make various significant improvements in ballot access for small political parties. Thanks to Lori Stacey 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.
The National Conference of State Legislatures has authored two useful reference charts.
Here is a chart that shows the partisan composition of each state’s legislative chambers. This data is very tough to track, because it changes constantly, due to resignations, deaths, and replacement actions, including special elections, or in some states appointments.
Here is a chart that shows when each state’s legislature convenes this year. Over half of them are already sitting. Thanks to Thomas Jones for both links.
On January 17, the Washington State Senate passed SB 6021, which allows voters to register on election day. The bill now goes to the House.
