New Jersey Governor Chris Christie must decide how to respond to AB 4237 by September 9. This is the bill that moves this year’s general election for state office from November 5 to October 16. The bill passed in June. If the Governor signs the bill, the state will save $12,000,000 in election administration costs. Without the bill, the state holds a special general election for U.S. Senate on October 16 and then a regular general election for state office (Governor and legislature) on November 5.

On August 30, U.S. District Court Judge Denise Page Hood, a Clinton appointee, struck down a Dearborn, Michigan city ordinance that required a group to have insurance if it wished to leaflet on public property and to have public speakers in that area. Stand Up America Now v City of Dearborn, eastern district, 12-11471. Here is the 12-page opinion. The opinion would be equally applicable to petitioning. Thanks to Thomas Jones for the news.

Colorado is holding a special State Senate election on September 10, in the Eleventh District in El Paso County. The special election is also a recall election. The ballot asks voters if they wish to recall incumbent State Senator John Morse, a Democrat. If he is recalled, then the ballot asks who should replace him. However, the only name on that part of the ballot is Republican candidate Bernie Herpin.

The Libertarian Party petitioned for Jan Brooks, but on August 27, her petition was ruled invalid. She needed 575 valid signatures and she was told that she only had 408 valid signatures. She had submitted 834. She considered suing, but the election is September 10 and there didn’t seem to be enough time. She is running a write-in campaign and her write-ins will be tallied.