On March 8, the Ohio Senate passed SB 10. It provides that if a qualified party that is entitled to a primary has no contests for any office, then no primary will be held for such a party. Here is the bill’s description.
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California Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Campbell), the chair of the Assembly Elections Committee, has introduced ACA 10. It would change the voting age from 18 to 17. Because it is a constitutional amendment, if it passes the legislature, the voters would vote on it in 2018.
On March 6, the Washington Senate passed SB 5333, which moves the presidential primary from the fourth Tuesday in May to the second Tuesday in March. A similar bill in the House, HB 1469, has passed a House Committee.
On March 9, the New Hampshire State Senate passed SB 114. It outlaws fusion, and says a general election candidate can only receive the nomination of one party. Thanks to Darryl Perry for this news.
On March 8, the North Carolina legislature passed HB 100. It converts trial judge elections from non-partisan to partisan. Republicans back the idea. The Governor, Roy Cooper, is a Democrat, and he will probably veto the bill. However, North Carolina gubernatorial vetoes can be overridden with a 60% in each house of the legislature, and if there is a veto, it will probably be overridden.
The State Supreme Court and State Appeals Court judicial races are already partisan.