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Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Strikes Down Election Law Criminalizing Making a False Statement in an Election

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Richard WingerAugust 6, 2015

On August 6, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court issued a 31-page opinion in Commonwealth v Melissa Lucas. The opinion strikes down a 1947 Massachusetts law that provides “no person shall make or publish any false statement in relation to any candidate for nomination or election to public office, which is designed or tends to aid or to injure or defeat such candidate.” The law has another section applying to ballot measures.

The opinion is based on the Free Speech portion of the Massachusetts Constitution, and was unanimous.

Senator Bernie Sanders Introduces Bill to Register U.S. Adult Citizens Automatically

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Richard WingerAugust 6, 2015

On August 5, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders introduced a bill that would requires the states to register adult U.S. citizens automatically, and let them then opt out of registering. Here is the text of the bill. The bill doesn’t have a bill number yet. The bill would only apply to elections for federal office.

Democrats Set Presidential Debate Schedule

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Richard WingerAugust 6, 2015

On August 6, the Democratic National Committee announced that Democratic Party presidential debates will start in October 2015. There will be one debate per month, in October 2015, November 2015, December 2015, and one in each of the first three months of 2016. See this story.

Canada Four-Party Debate Set for Evening of August 6

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Richard WingerAugust 6, 2015

Maclean’s Magazine is sponsoring a televised debate for the leaders of four political parties in Canada. The debate is the evening of August 6. It starts at 8 a.m. eastern time and runs two hours. See this story. The four parties are the Conservative, New Democratic, Liberal, and Green Parties. Canada will have a parliamentary election in October 2015.

Level the Playing Field Press Release on Republican Presidential Debates of August 6, 2015

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Richard WingerAugust 6, 2015

Level the Playing Field, which supports opening up the general election presidential debates to more candidates, has issued this press release. It points out that if the 15% polling rule were applied to the August 6, 2015 Republican presidential debate, only one candidate, Donald Trump, would qualify.