On Wednesday, February 14, U.S. District Court Judge Benjamin H. Settle will hear De La Fuente v Wyman, w.d., c16-5801. The issue is the Washington state election law that says before an independent presidential candidate may begin to petition in the state, he or she must have run a notice in a newspaper at least ten days before the start of the drive.

On January 31, Judge Settle issued this 16-page order, suggesting that the state interest in this restriction does not seem necessary nor convincing, but setting the oral argument so the state can perhaps suggest some other state interests.

The hearing will be in Tacoma at 1:30 p.m.

The bill to drastically improve Indiana ballot access, SB 328, has two new co-sponsors: Republican Mike Bohacek, and Democrat Mark Stoops. The bill has passed the Senate Committee and will soon have a vote on the Senate floor.

Maine supporters of ranked choice voting will submit their referendum petition to the Secretary of State on Friday, February 2. The town clerks have already determined that it has enough valid signatures to place the referendum on the June 2018 ballot. This petition, at least temporarily, suspends the virtual repeal of RCV passed last year.

This referendum will mean that Maine must use ranked choice voting in the June 2018 primary. If the voters in June sustain RCV, it will also be used in November 2018 for congress.