Professor Jon A. Krosnick will be an expert witness for the Virginia candidates who are challenging a state law that says nominees of parties that polled 10% in the last election always get the top spot on general election ballots. Here is the wikipedia article about him. The case is Libertarian Party of Virginia v Judd, eastern district, 3:14cv-479. Most of the plaintiffs are Libertarians, but they also include an independent candidate.

Meanwhile, the state has filed a brief, trying to persuade the judge to dismiss the case without hearing any evidence. On October 13, the plaintiffs filed a reply brief. Check back here soon to see a copy.

On October 15, a DMH Poll of Oregon candidates and ballot measures was released. See the full results here. For Measure 90, the top-two system initiative, the poll shows 36% in favor, 38% opposed, and 26% undecided. Scroll down to question seven. Thanks to Wes Wagner for the link, via TndependentPoliticalReport.

A group of experienced observers of Congress here recommend several dozen ideas for helping make Congress more productive. Almost all of the recommendations are to alter certain congressional internal rules of procedure. But, recommendation XIX is that Congress exercise its Article One authority over congressional elections to set a nationwide primary day for congressional elections. The group recommends June but does not explain the rationale for choosing that month.

Currently, states set their own congressional primary dates, and they range from March to September. Louisiana has abolished congressional primaries and merely holds an election for Congress in November; all candidates from all parties appear on that ballot. If no one gets 50%, there is a runoff in December.

The authors of the recommendations include Alan Frumin, parliamentarian of the U.S. Senate; former Senator Tom Daschle of South Dakota, former Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi, former Congressman Bob Livingston of Louisiana, former Congressman Barney Frank of Massachusetts, and political analyst Lawrence O’Donnell, Jr. Thanks to the ElectionLawBlog for the link. The recommendations are published in Esquire magazine.