This Alabama newspaper story describes the status of the state court lawsuit over whether the Governor is required to call a special U.S. Senate election this year, or whether he can decide to skip a special election until November 2018. The vacancy was created when Senator Jeff Sessions resigned to become U.S. Attorney General. The Governor then appointed Luther Strange and said there is no requirement for a special election this year.

The law is vague, and says the special election must be called “forthwith.”

The North Carolina House will vote on whether to override the Governor’s veto of HB 100 on Wednesday, March 22. This is the bill that moves the independent candidate petition deadline (for all office, including president) from June to April. The bill also converts lower trial court elections from non-partisan to partisan.

On Thursday, March 23, the Maryland Senate Education, Health & Environmental Affairs Committee will hear HB 529. It lowers the number of signatures for independent candidates for statewide office from approximately 40,000 signatures, to exactly 10,000 signatures. It has already passed the House.