On May 13, Mark Moore, who had tried to be an independent candidate for state office last year in Arkansas, filed a brief that argues that the new petition deadline for non-presidential independent candidates is so early, it is unconstitutional as a matter of law. In 2013 the legislature had moved that deadline from May to March. The Arkansas primary in 2014 was in May.

Moore’s brief points out that the non-presidential independent deadline has already been declared unconstitutional three times in the past, and once the U.S. Supreme Court even summarily affirmed the decision. If Judge James M. Moody agrees that the case can be settled without a trial, then the trial set for July won’t be needed.

The three decisions in the past that struck down early petition deadlines for Arkansas non-presidential independents were in 1975, 1977, and 1988. The 1977 decision, Lendall v Jernigan, was affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Annette Bosworth, a South Dakota Republican who ran in the primary for U.S. Senate last year, is charged with 12 felonies because she signed a petition sheet as the witness, and she did not actually see the signers sign the petition. However, all the people who signed her petition were registered Republican voters. Her trial begins May 18. She has pleaded “not guilty” and faces 24 years in prison (two years for each count).

Paul Jacob, who was himself once arrested and charged with conspiracy to bring out-of-state circulators into Oklahoma, has been speaking out against the severe charges filed against Bosworth. Here is an article about the case, which came about because Jacob has gone to South Dakota to assist Bosworth.

The Bloomberg View editorial says that British Prime Minister David Cameron “should make a priority of electoral reform”, and explains why Britain needs proportional representation. Thanks to Rob Richie for the link.