Mhairi Black, a 20-year-old student, has been elected to the British House of Commons. She is the Scottish National Party nominee. See this story, which says she is the youngest member since 1667.
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The Prohibition Party has cancelled its national convention, which had been set for June 2015 in Helen, Georgia. Instead the party will chose a presidential candidate by conference call in July 2015. “Member” is someone who had contributed to the party no later than May 5, 2015.
In 2004 the Reform Party also held a telephone conference call to choose a presidential nominee. Ralph Nader received the nomination. Later the party held an in-person meeting because of fears that the first national convention would not be considered valid by Florida election officials.
On May 7, three Democratic members of Congress introduced bills in each House to change public funding for presidential candidates. The bills don’t have numbers yet, but this press release describes the bills. Current law requires presidential candidates to raise $5,000 in small donations from each of 20 states. The bill would increase that to $25,000 from each of 20 states.
The bill’s sponsors are U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and U.S. House members Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and David Price (D-N.C.). They introduced almost the same bill in 2012 but it did not advance.
Minor party and independent presidential candidates who have received primary season public funding include Sonia Johnson of the Citizens Party in 1984, Lenora Fulani of the New Alliance Party in 1988 and 1992, John Hagelin of the Natural Law Party, Pat Buchanan of the Reform Party, Ralph Nader in 2000, 2004, and 2008, Jill Stein in 2012, and Gary Johnson in 2012. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.
On May 7, the Kentucky State Board of Elections passed an emergency regulation, setting a 100 foot zone around polling places on election day. The action was motivated by the recent decision of the Sixth Circuit, striking down the statutory 300 foot limit. See this story. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.
Here are predictions for the British election of May 7, based on exit polling.