Maine Legislature Passes Bill that May Make it Possible to Use Ranked Choice Voting for State Office in General Elections

Posted on by June 12, 2025
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On June 11, the Maine legislature passed LD 1666.  The Senate vote was 20-14; the House vote was 72-70.  It changes the definition of “ranked choice voting” to say that the system is a system which elects candidates who won a plurality.  The bill doesn’t actually change how RCV works; it is a vocabulary tweak.

The reason this matters is that the State Supreme Court years ago interpreted the State Constitution to ban RCV in general elections for state office.  That is why Maine uses RCV for federal primaries and federal general elections, and also uses it for state office primaries, but does not use it for state general elections.  The backers of the bill hope that this vocabulary change will lead the State Supreme Court to approve RCV for state office general elections.

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley Demands to See Internal Communications and Donor Lists from Party for Socialism and Liberation and Many Other Groups Thought to Have Helped Organize Demonstrations

Posted on by June 12, 2025
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On June 11, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley sent a letter to many organizations, including the Party for Socialism and Liberation, thought to have helped organize demonstrations concerning actions by the federal government on immigration.  The letter wants each group to furnish:  1. All internal communications, including emails, text messages, chart logs, and messaging applications, relating to protest planning, coordination, or funding; 2. All financial documents relating to protests, demonstrations, or mobilization efforts in Los Angeles or elsewhere relating to immigration enforcement; 3. All third-party contracts or vendor agreements, including any arrangements with event organizers, transportation providers, security personnel, or communications consultants relating to immigration enforcement of the Los Angeles protests, or similar protests elsewhere; 4. Grant applications, funding proposals that relate to or reference immigration enforcement; 5. Travel and lodging records for individuals or groups supported or reimbursed in connection with protest activities; 6. Media or public relations strategies, including talking points, press releases, and coordination with journalists or influencers relating to immigration protests; 7. Donor lists.

The letter ends by saying, “Failure to comply will result in additional action by this Subcommittee, including potential referral for criminal investigations.”

Georgia Supreme Court Unanimously Says Some 2024 State Election Board Rules Exceed the Authority of the Board

Posted on by June 11, 2025
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On June 10, the Georgia Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the State Election Board exceeded its authority in 2024 when it created certain rules.  Republican National Committee v Eternal Vigilance Action, Inc., S25A0362.  The rules included one mandating that a hand count of all ballots be made after an election; that someone delivering an absentee ballot in person must show photo ID and provide a signatures; and that county election boards need not certify the results if they have a “reasonable inquiry” to make about the process.  Here is the decision.

In the lower court, the case had been called Eternal Vigilance Action, Inc. v State of Georgia.  The lower court had also struck down the rules.  When that happened, the state did not appeal, so the intervenor Republican Party appealed.