On February 25, the North Dakota House rejected three bills that would have made it more difficult for candidates to get on a primary ballot. Currently North Dakota primary candidates go on the ballot automatically if they have substantial support at a party endorsements meeting. Candidates who didn’t show support at a party meeting could still get on the primary ballot with a petition.

HB 1446, which would have required all primary candidates to submit signatures, was defeated 58-32.

Two other bills that would have ended the petition alternative were also defeated overwhelmingly. See this story.

The Kansas State Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs has introduced SCR 1611. It would bring about popular non-partisan elections for State Supreme Court Justice. Currently the Governor appoints justices from a list prepared by a non-partisan commission.

On February 26, the New Jersey State Appeals Court said that the State Constitution does not protect the right of two political parties to jointly nominate the same candidate. In re Tom Malinowski Petition for Nomination for General Election, A-3542-21. See this Election Law Blog post.

Here is the opinion.