Virginia Senate Passes Bill for General Election Run-Off for All Statewide Races Except President

Posted on by February 12, 2015
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On February 9, the Virginia Senate passed SB 742. Here is the text of the bill. It says that when no one gets as much as 50% in a general election for a statewide office, there shall be a run-off between the top two contenders. Oddly, the bill does not specify the date of such a run-off. The bill excepts presidential elections. The bill also says that if someone got 50% when all write-in votes are ignored, then no run-off is needed.

The vote was 22-16. All Republican Senators voted for the bill, along with one Democratic Senator. The bill now goes to the House of Delegates.

Oklahoma Bill Moving Presidential Primary Passes Committee

Posted on by February 12, 2015
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On February 11, the Oklahoma Senate Rules Committee passed SB 233. It moves the presidential primary from the first Tuesday in March to the fourth Tuesday of March. The Oklahoma presidential primary is separate from the primary for other office, and the date of the presidential primary does not affect any deadlines for newly-qualifying parties. Thanks to Josh Putnam for this news.

Rand Paul Asks Kentucky Republican Party to Set up 2016 Caucuses for Choosing Delegates to National Convention

Posted on by February 12, 2015
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According to this story, U.S. Senator Rand Paul has asked the Kentucky Republican State Committee to authorize a March 2016 caucus to choose delegates to the Republican national convention. If the party accepts this idea, then Paul won’t need to worry that his name can’t be on the May 2016 presidential primary, because that primary will become simply a “beauty contest” without power over the selection of delegates.

The party will decide on March 7. Paul can’t have his name on the May 2016 Kentucky presidential primary because he will also be running for re-election to the U.S. Senate.