On March 10, the Arizona Senate defeated SCR 1001 by a vote of 15 yes, 13 no, and 2 not voting. Although the bill got more “yes” votes than “no” votes, it didn’t pass because the rules require bills to get at least 16 votes in the State Senate. SCR 1001 would have put a ballot measure on the November 2016 ballot, asking voters if they wish to stop public funding for candidates for state office. It is possible the proponents will try again.
U.S. District Court Judge Elizabeth K. Dillon will hear Adams v Alcorn on Monday, March 23, at 2 p.m. in Harrisonburg. This is the lawsuit filed by a Republican Party Committee that challenges the state law which says an incumbent office-holder who is running for re-election can decide whether the party will nominate in his or her race by primary or by convention. The Republican Party wants to hold a convention to choose a nominee in the 24th State Senate district. But the incumbent Republican State Senator wants a primary, and under the law, his wishes overcome the wishes of the party.
When there is no incumbent, a party in Virginia is free to decide whether to use a convention or a primary. Judge Dillon is an Obama appointee.
Arkansas State Senator Gary Stubblefield has introduced SB 765, to move the primary for president and all other office from May to March. Because the Arkansas petition deadline for non-presidential independent candidates is tied to the date of the primary, if this bill passed, independent candidates for office other than president would be required to file their petitions in November of the year before the election. The author of the bill has plainly given no thought to this problem. Such a deadline would clearly be unconstitutional. Thanks to Josh Putnam for this news about the bill.
The Associated Press has this story, which has appeared in several Ohio newspapers, about the dilemma that Libertarians in Ohio are in, for the 2015 partisan local elections. Although most odd year elections in Ohio are non-partisan, some cities have partisan elections this year. Libertarians filed in three such cities. Two of them have been told the Libertarian Party isn’t a ballot qualified party any longer, while in a third county, the filing has been accepted.
The party is waiting for a U.S. District Court to rule on whether the 2013 ballot access law is constitutional or not. If the law is not constitutional, then it is likely the Libertarian Party is still qualified.
On March 10, the Alabama legislature came into session. The Alabama legislature convenes considerably later than the state legislatures of almost any other state. State Senator Cam Ward has said he will introduce a ballot access improvement bill today. Check back later.
