Oregon Measure 92, for labeling genetically altered foods, lost by 812 votes last month, and a recount is underway. On December 8 the initiative’s supporters filed a lawsuit in state court, arguing that 4,600 ballots weren’t counted because election officials felt the signature on the outer envelope of the mail-in ballot doesn’t match the signature on the voter registration form. Some of the plaintiffs are voters whose ballots weren’t counted. They point out that the appearance of their signatures has changed over the years. See this story.

When a voter’s ballot is rejected because the signature appears not to match, that voter is supposed to be notified, and is given until November 18 to come into the office. But many voters say they were not informed their ballot had been rejected.

The New York Times of December 7 has this story, explaining that seven states still have constitutional provisions that say atheists are not eligible to hold state or local office.

On December 3, the Illinois legislature passed SB 172, after deleting an amendment that would have injured ballot access. The bill expands election-day registration, and also increases the period of time in which early voting may take place. On December 2 the bill had been amended to delete the ability of qualified parties to nominate someone by party meeting (assuming no one had run in the primary for that party, for that office). But after that amendment got bad publicity in Gapers Block, an on-line Chicago newspaper, that provision was removed from the bill. Thanks to Phil Huckelberry for this news.