John Myers of KQED, the leading public broadcasting station in northern California, has this interesting analysis of the top-two system on major party nominations and processes. He expects primary turnout to continue to be quite low. He also notes the success of major party leaders in helping influence which candidates declare for office.
Bills have been introduced in each house of the Mississippi legislature to move the presidential primary (and the primary for all other office in presidential years) from the second Tuesday in March, to the first Tuesday in March. They are SB 2531 and HB 933. It is likely that when the Alabama legislature convenes, a similar bill will be introduced in that state. Both states had their presidential primaries on March 13 in 2012, but if the bills pass, they will be March 1 in 2016. For 2016, the major parties do not permit any states (except New Hampshire and South Carolina) to hold presidential primaries earlier than March 1. Thanks to Josh Putnam for the news.
Between February 12-16, a museum near Atlanta will feature an exhibit on Black presidential candidates in U.S. history, going back to 1904. See here for more information. The exhibit will be in the Sights & Sounds Black Cultural Expo Museum, in North Dekalb Mall, 2050 Lawrenceville Hwy., Decatur Ga 30033. Then, starting February 17-19, it will be at the Atlanta University Center.
On January 22, a subcommittee of the Virginia House Privileges & Elections Committee heard testimony on HB 1463, which changes the definition of “Political party” from a group that at least 10% for a statewide race at either of the last two elections, to one that got at least 4%. Four witnesses testified, all in favor of the bill. However, the subcommittee then voted to postpone the bill indefinitely, which is a way of killing the bill without any actually voting “no.” Thanks to Bill Redpath for this news.
The Third Circuit will hear Balsam v Guadagno, 14-3882, on Tuesday, March 17, probably in Philadelphia. This is the case in which some voters argue that the U.S. Constitution does not permit states to pay for partisan primaries unless all voters are permitted to vote in those primaries. Some of the voters are independents. Others are members of the Democratic or Republican Parties, but they say they would rather not be members of those parties and they just register that way so they can vote in New Jersey partisan primaries.
New Jersey law lets independent voters join a party on primary day, at the polls, and then they can vote in one of the primaries. That voter is then free to re-register as an independent immediately after voting in the primary. Thanks to Shawn Griffiths for the news about the hearing date.
