Colorado State Court Says Petitioner’s Work is Valid Even if He Moved During the Petition Drive and Didn’t Update his Voter Registration

Posted on by April 29, 2016
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On April 29, a Colorado state trial court ruled that a petition is valid, even if the circulator moved during the petition drive and did not re-register at his new address. As a result, Jon Keyser, a candidate for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, will be on the August primary ballot. Here is the four-page opinion in Keyser v Williams, Denver District Court 2016-cv-31500.

The candidate needed 10,500 valid signatures and had submitted 16,067. Candidates in Colorado primaries do not need petitions if they have substantial support at a party caucus, but Keyser did not have that caucus support so he was forced to use the petition alternative.

U.S. Supreme Court Says if Fifth Circuit Doesn’t Rule on Texas Voter-ID Case by July 20, 2016, It Will Get Involved

Posted on by April 29, 2016
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On April 29, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an order in Veasey v Abbott, 15A999, the long-pending lawsuit over the Texas photo voter-ID law for voters who vote at the polls. The U.S. Supreme Court says if the Fifth Circuit doesn’t resolve this case by July 20, 2016, the plaintiffs should file with the U.S. Supreme Court. Thanks to Rick Hasen for this news.

Ninth Circuit Will Rehear Lawsuit over how Tucson Elects City Councilmembers

Posted on by April 28, 2016
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On April 27, the Ninth Circuit said it will rehear Public Integrity Alliance v City of Tucson, 15-16142. On November 10, 2015, the original 3-judge panel on the Ninth Circuit had voted 2-1 that Tucson’s method violates the U.S. Constitution. The method is to have partisan primaries within each ward, but then in the general election, all the party nominees chosen in the district primaries run citywide. Persons associated with the Republican Party had filed this lawsuit, because the system usually results in wins for all the Democratic nominees in November.

The Ninth Circuit will hear the case en banc. No other circuit grants rehearings as frequently as the Ninth Circuit.

Tucson’s city attorney has probably spent more time defending his city’s method of electing city councilmembers than any other city attorney in the United States. A few years ago he had to fight off a law that the legislature passed, mandating that all cities in Arizona use non-partisan elections for city office. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the news.

Maine Governor Vetoes Bill to Add $2,500,000 to Public Funding Program

Posted on by April 28, 2016
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Maine has public funding for candidates for state office. The fund is running out of money. On April 12, the legislature passed LD 1579, a bill putting $2,500,000 into the fund. But on April 25, Governor Paul LePage vetoed the bill. The bill had passed the Senate 26-9, and the House 81-65. It is not clear if the legislature will override the veto.