On March 5, Oregon HB 2177 passed the legislature. See this story. The bill automatically registers everyone on the Oregon Motor Vehicles Department list who is at least age 18 and has indicated U.S. citizenship. No other state takes this approach, except that in a sense North Dakota has this policy, because in North Dakota there is no such thing as voter registration.
On March 4, the New Hampshire House defeated HB 185 by 28-335. The bill would have restored the straight-ticket device, which New Hampshire repealed in 2007. All of the votes in favor of straight-ticket voting were Republicans.
On March 4, HB 665 was defeated in the New Hampshire House of Representatives by a vote of 56-286. The bill would have lowered the number of signatures for independent candidates and the nominees of unqualified parties. The statewide requirement would have dropped from 3,000 to 1,317.
The 56 Representatives who voted in favor of the bill consist of 52 Republicans and 4 Democrats. The lone independent, Representative David Luneau, voted against the bill. Thanks to Darryl Perry for this news.
On March 4, the House Administration Committee, in the U.S. House of Representatives, passed HR 412. The bill abolishes public funding for presidential candidates. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma) and is co-sponsored by Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Virginia). Thanks to Rick Hasen for this news.
California holds a special election to fill the vacant State Senate seat, 21st district, on March 17. Only one name is on the ballot, Sharon Runner, a Republican. However, six candidates have filed declarations of write-in candidacy. See this story. Three of the write-in candidates are Democrats, one is a Republican, and two are independents. California still has write-ins in primaries, but not in general elections, for state office and Congress.
