According to this story, Republican Senators in Montana almost introduced a bill to put a top-two system on the November 2016 for voters to decide whether or not to implement it.  The measure was drafted for Senator Fred Thomas (R-Stevensville), but he did not introduce it because the Republican leadership in the Senate decided not to support the idea.  Thanks to Mike Fellows for the link.

The story quotes one Republican Senator as saying “the beauty of the top-two system” is that the winner is determined by a majority.  A top-two system does not necessarily mean election by a majority of the voters who cast ballots.  Under top-two systems, a large proportion of the voters who cast a vote simply leave the office blank when they don’t like the listed choices.  In the California November 2012 election for U.S. House, 31st district, 23.1% of the voters who cast a ballot simply left U.S. House blank.

A Texas legislative hearing on HB 25, which would remove partisan judicial races from the reach of the straight-ticket device, got a cool reception on March 24, according to this story.

On March 27, the Arkansas Senate passed SB 389 by a vote of 20-5.  It creates a presidential primary that is separate from the primary for other office.  The primary for other office will continue to be on the fourth Tuesday in May.

Arkansas has always had its presidential primaries in May, except in 2008 when it held a separate presidential primary in February.

Another Arkansas bill, SB 765, which would have moved all primaries to March, has not advanced.  If SB 765 were to become law, the effect would be to make the non-presidential independent candidate petition deadline even earlier than it already is.  Already, Arkansas is being sued over the April deadline, but SB 765 would have put that deadline in late January or early February.

Because SB 389 seems likely to pass, it is now more likely that Mississippi and Alabama will pass pending bills that move their primaries (for all office) from March 8 to March 1.  The three states mentioned in this post, plus Georgia, have long been planning to have simultaneous presidential primaries.  The Georgia law lets the Secretary of State choose the date so no legislative action is needed in Georgia.  Thanks to John Putnam for this news.