Iowa Representative Bruce Hunter (D-Des Moines) has introduced HF 27, to provide for public funding of campaigns for state office. It would also provide for a voters pamphlet to be sent to all voters, with candidate statements. See this story, which describes the bill. The story also mentions the other election law bills introduced in Iowa so far. Thanks to Nathan Hetzel for the link.
Courthouse News Service has this article about the January 29 decision of the California Court of Appeals, upholding the top-two system. The case is Rubin v Padilla.
According to this Washington Post story, on January 30, three Virginia Democratic voters filed a federal lawsuit that says the Democratic Party broke the law when it held a nominating convention for the special election for Delegate, district 74. The story says that the party charged $1,500 for any candidate who wanted to be nominated. The story also says the convention improperly excluded voters from part of the district.
The case does not seem to be registered on Pacer yet, so it is difficult to understand the story completely. Check back in a few days. I hope to have seen the Complaint by then and will be able to more fully describe it. UPDATE: the case is Lambert v Democratic Party of Virginia, e.d., 3:15cv-61. See Jim Riley’s comment below for more about this interesting case.
On January 14, the Montana State Senate Administration Committee tabled SB 13, a bill introduced by Senator Sue Malek (D-Missoula.) The bill would have provided that if printed literature by a candidate or political committee mentions how another candidate voted on a bill, that literature must list every vote that candidate took on that same bill. Thanks to Mike Fellows for this news.
The New Hampshire House Election Law Committee will hear HB 665 on Thursday, February 5, at 10 a.m. The location will be Room 308 of the Legislative Office Building. The bill lowers the number of signatures for independent candidates and the nominees of unqualified parties.
