| Page 2946

Missouri Constitution Party Wins Injunctive Relief in Ballot Access Case

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Richard WingerFebruary 11, 2015

On February 10, officials in St. Louis County, Missouri, agreed to put the Constitution Party’s nominee on the ballot in the special election for County Council, Sixth District. The special election will be April 7; the Constitution Party’s nominee is Cynthia Redburn.

The county charter says that in special elections, only the nominees of the two parties that polled the biggest vote in the state for Governor may run nominees. The party had filed a lawsuit against this provision on January 30, 2015, Constitution Party of Missouri v St. Louis County, e.d., 4:15cv-207. The case was to have had a hearing on February 11, but the day before, the county agreed to list Redburn on the ballot. The U.S. District Court will in the near future consider whether the provision violates the U.S. Constitution. Here is the two-page consent judgment. Thanks to Independent Political Report for this news.

Article on California Politics Web Site “Fox and Hounds” Points Out Factual Error in State Court of Appeals Top-Two Decision

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Richard WingerFebruary 11, 2015

Joe Mathews has this column at Fox and Hounds, a California politics web site. Mathews points out the important factual error in the January 29 State Court of Appeals decision Rubin v Padilla. The decision upheld California’s top-two system, but the judges largely based their opinion on their misunderstanding that before top-two went into effect, independent voters couldn’t vote in congressional and state office primaries.

New Hampshire Legislature Considers Expanding Gubernatorial Terms from Two Years to Four Years

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Richard WingerFebruary 10, 2015

Nine Democratic members of the New Hampshire House, along with the independent member, have introduced CACR 10. It would amend the State Constitution to convert gubernatorial terms from two years to four years. Currently, all states have four year gubernatorial terms except for New Hamnpshire and Vermont, which elect governors every two years. Thanks to Howard Wilson for this news.

Newspaper Story on New Mexico Court Hearing on Primaries

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Richard WingerFebruary 10, 2015

This newspaper story describes the hearing on February 10 in Crum v Duran, the case over whether the New Mexico Constitution mandates that independent voters be allowed to vote in partisan primaries.

Connecticut Bill to Move Presidential Primary from April to Early March

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Richard WingerFebruary 10, 2015

Connecticut State Senator Joe Markley, a Republican, has introduced SB 610. It moves the presidential primary from April to the first Tuesday in March. It would have no effect on the primary for other office, which is in August. Thanks to Josh Putnam for this news.