The Kansas Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs has introduced SB 6, which would ban ranked choice voting in the state. No jurisdiction in Kansas currently uses ranked choice voting. Here is the text.
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On January 27, the Fourth Circuit heard Griffin v North Carolina State Board of Elections, 25-1018, over the disputed election from November 2024 for State Supreme Court Justice. The three judges were Paul Niemeyer, a Bush Sr. appointee; Marvin Quattlebaum, a Trump appointee; and Toby J. Heytens, a Biden appointee.
Here is a news story about the hearing.
Here is a link to the audio recording.
Hearings are now scheduled in both cases concerning President Donald Trump’s order on birthright citizenship. The Massachusetts case, which is paradoxically styled State of New Jersey v Trump, has a February 7 hearing on whether the order should be enjoined. The Washington state case, State of Washington v Trump, has a similar hearing set for February 6.
In the Massachusetts case, Judge Leo Sorokin ruled on January 24 that the assignment of the case to him is proper.
Ken R. Bush of St. Louis, Missouri, died on January 12, 2024, over a year ago, but I just learned this sad news. Bush was a Libertarian who worked for five years to persuade the Missouri legislature to pass a ballot access bill that makes it possible for minor parties to regularly appear on the Missouri ballot. From 1989 through 1993 his bill was introduced every year, and finally it became law.
Ken succeeded because he was so thoroughly talented with human relationships. He had a gentle sense of humor that helped his lobbying work. He was also very resourceful. He located the former legislator who had written the hostile bill of 1953 that virtually wiped out ballot access for minor parties. He persuaded that former legislator to make a statement that the bill was a mistake, and that it should be eased.
Here is the story from tampabay.com.
Thanks to Trent Pool for the heads up.