On May 12, Gallup released this poll, which asks voters if they are enthusiastic about voting in 2014, relative to how enthusiastic they usually are about voting. The results show a smaller percentage of voters say they are enthusiastic than for any previous midterm election going back to 1994. It appears Gallup did not do this poll in years before 1994. Thanks to Politico for the link.
According to this story, no Democrat has yet announced as a candidate for Governor of Wyoming. Scroll down to the section of the article with the header “Democrats.” Filing for major party primaries in Wyoming closes on May 30.
Political Science Professor Keith Smith has this article about how California’s top-two system has greatly reduced the number of minor party candidates, and also threatened them with losing their qualified status.
On May 9, the New Jersey Secretary of State filed a brief in Balsam v Guadagno, U.S. District Court 2:14cv-1388. This is the case, filed in March 2014, in which some New Jersey voters complain that they want to vote in Democratic or Republican primaries, but they don’t want to be listed as members of those parties.
As to the point that the voters’ complain that their right to vote is being injured, the state’s brief says, “Their mere desire is overborne by the countervailing and legitimate right of political parties to exclude non-members from their nominating processes.”
As to the point that the New Jersey Constitution seems to have a provision making it illegal for the state to pay for the primaries, the state says that is a matter for state court, and also that the particular voters who filed the lawsuit don’t have standing because they haven’t showed how the payment injures them specifically.
New Jersey lets independent voters vote in major party primaries. However, if an independent chooses to vote in a major party primary, he or she is then listed as a party member. However, anyone is always free to re-register and revert back to independent status.
The plaintiffs haven’t yet filed a brief in this case.
Following the 2010 census, the Florida legislature was charged with redrawing the U.S. House districts under a new state constitutional amendment that is meant to end partisan gerrymandering. The amendment says the legislature must not draw the boundaries with intent to help any particular party.
The Republican-majority legislature drew maps in 2011. Many observers felt the new boundaries were, indeed, drawn to help the Republican Party. In February 2012, two separate lawsuits were filed in state court, to overturn the new U.S. House district boundaries. These cases, Romo v Scott and League of Women Voters of Florida v Browning, were consolidated in March 2012.
The trial in these cases is is about to begin. Opening statements were presented on Friday, May 9, and the trial starts on May 12. See this story. The outcome will have no effect on the 2014 election, but if the districts are invalidated, the legislature will be required to draw new ones in 2015.
