California State Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Los Angeles) has introduced SCA 11 and SB 691. They would provide that every candidate for local office in California (county, city, special district) would have his or her party of registration printed on ballots.

The does not cover judicial elections, or elections for Superintendent of Public Instruction. Those would be the only offices with no party labels on the ballot.

The bill, if enacted, would not alter the characteristic of local California elections that the first election is an election and can (and usually does) elect someone.

The bill could not take effect unless the voters approve the change, because the nonpartisan nature of local elections is currently in the state Constitution. Thanks to Dave Kadlecek for this news.

The Iowa bill to abolish the straight-ticket device, SF 60, did not make any headway this year, and it has now missed the deadline for bill to have passed their first committee.

On March 6, the Utah Senate Government Operations & Political Subdivisions Committee defeated HB 349 by 3-3. On a tie, bills do not advance. The bill would have established instant runoff voting in Utah primaries and general elections, for virtually all office. It had passed the House last week.

The bill would not have taken effect until 2019 anyway. Proponents are optimistic that the bill will pass next year.

The committee has six Republicans and two Democrats. Both Democrats voted for the bill. One of the Republicans voted for the bill; three voted against; and two did not vote. The Republican who voted for the bill is Senator Don Ipson of St. George. The three Republicans who voted against the bill are Margaret Dayton, David Hinkins, and Daniel Thatcher. Senator Dayton is the author of the bill that passed earlier this year moving the petition deadline for new parties from February of election years to November of the year before the election.