The Bangor Daily News has this op-ed by Maine State Representative Diane Russell. She advocates ranked-choice voting for Maine. Thanks to Rob Richie for the link.
2
Jim Galloway, politics and government columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, devotes much of his column to describing the October 19 gubernatorial debate. Further down, the column also describes the television ad being run by the Libertarian nominee for Governor.
Dan Walters, veteran politics and government columnist for the Sacramento Bee, predicts a record low turnout for a general election in California next month. He writes, “A couple of dozen legislative and congressional races pitting members of the same party against one another may also dampen turnout.”
He did not say anything about the effect on turnout of a system that has left California as one of only six states this year with only Democrats and Republicans on the ballot for the top office on the ballot, but that probably is another factor in lowering turnout. Thanks to AroundtheCapital for the link.
Michael Waldman, president of the Brennan Center, has this article in Politico on the U.S. Supreme Court and its apparent indifference to voting rights, particularly in relation to Texas. Thanks to HowAppealing for the link.
On October 20, Public Policy Polling released a North Carolina U.S. Senate poll. The results: Democratic incumbent Kay Hagan 46%; Republican Richard Tillis 43%; Libertarian Sean Haugh 5%; undecided 7%. The poll includes a question for the Haugh voters, which shows that he draws almost equally between people who (if they were to vote in a two-candidate race) would vote Democratic or Republican. Thanks to PoliticalWire for the link.