This newspaper story describes the hearing on February 10 in Crum v Duran, the case over whether the New Mexico Constitution mandates that independent voters be allowed to vote in partisan primaries.
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Connecticut State Senator Joe Markley, a Republican, has introduced SB 610. It moves the presidential primary from April to the first Tuesday in March. It would have no effect on the primary for other office, which is in August. Thanks to Josh Putnam for this news.
The Gainesville (Georgia) Times has this story about HB 58, the bill to ease ballot access for U.S. House, legislature, and partisan county office. There have been many bills to improve Georgia ballot access over the last 28 years, all of which have failed to pass. But during those 28 years, the Georgia newspapers have consistently failed to mention such bills. It is somewhat encouraging that HB 58 has now been covered in four Georgia news sources, including the one in the “Update” below.
UPDATE: here is another story.
Kate Brown, Oregon Secretary of State, has ruled that the Independent Party of Oregon is now entitled to a government-administered primary. But, in theory, the party could lose that status if it doesn’t maintain its current 5% registration level. See this story.
The story also says that the Independent Party will let independent voters vote in its primary. Neither the Democratic nor the Republican Parties of Oregon now let independents vote in their primaries.
New Mexico Representative Nate Gentry (R-Bernalillo) has introduced HB 346. It would move the primary for president and all other office from June to March. Because New Mexico links petition deadlines for independent candidates and newly-qualifying parties to the primary date, the bill would automatically move those deadlines from late June to mid-April. Two years ago, a U.S. District Court ruled in Constitution Party v Duran that the old April deadline for newly-qualifying parties is unconstitutionally early. Chances are, the bill’s sponsor hasn’t thought about this problem. Thanks to Frontloading HQ and Josh Putnam for this news.