On February 19, the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First District, affirmed the ruling of a lower court and required the Redistricting Commission to redraw the boundaries of two U.S. House districts. Williams v Board of Elections of New York, 2026-444. This is a win for Democrats because it makes it unlikely that New York city’s only Republican U.S. House member will be able to win re-election. It is not thought likely that the State Court of Appeals will take this case, but there is a possibility that the U.S. Supreme Court would get involved.

On February 18, the Connecticut Law Tribune published an editorial, “Connecticut Should Ease Restrictions to Ballot Access”. It says that it is too difficult for candidates to get on primary ballots, and suggests that the restrictions might violate the State Constitution. The editorial is behind a pay wall.

For candidates who cannot get the support of 15% of the delegates at a party meeting, a petition of 2% of the number of the party’s registrants is needed for statewide and U.S. House candidates. The signatures must be gathered in only six weeks. For candidates for the legislature and local office, 5% is needed, in only 14 days.

The League of Women Voters and the Council on American-Islamic Relations are the Plaintiffs and are represented by the ACLU and the Campaign Legal Center in suing the Buckeye State over provisions in the recently passed controversial Senate Bill 293. League of Women Voters v LaRose, s.d., 2:26cv-177. Here is the Complaint, filed February 13.

Here’s the story on this matter from Ohio Capitol Journal.

The case is assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Watson, a Bush Jr. appointee.