Arizona Bill to Hold Presidential Primary on Same Day as Iowa Caucuses Has Hearing Next Week

Posted on by February 18, 2015
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As mentioned last month, Arizona Representative Phil Lovas (R-Peoria) has introduced HB 2015, to move Arizona’s February presidential primary to the day the major parties hold presidential caucuses in Iowa. The bill also says that should some other state move its presidential primary to a date earlier than the Iowa caucus, then the Arizona presidential primary would also go ahead of the Iowa caucus, and would match that other state’s date. This news story appears to say the bill will be heard in committee next week.

In 2012, the Iowa major party caucuses were on January 3.

Arizona Bill to Remove Names of Presidential Elector Candidates from Ballot

Posted on by February 18, 2015
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Arizona Representative Doug Coleman (R-Apache Junction) has introduced HB 2015. It would remove the names of presidential elector candidates from the November ballot. Only five states still print the names of presidential elector candidates on ballots, and Arizona is the most populous of those. Printing the names of eleven candidates for presidential elector for each presidential candidate takes up quite a bit of room on ballots, so if this bill passed, the ballot would be smaller and neater.

Utah Constitution Party Intervenes in Republican Party Case, in Defense of its Convention Nomination System

Posted on by February 18, 2015
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Last year, the Utah legislature passed a bill that requires all qualified parties to alter their nomination process. The Republican Party does not like the new law and had filed a federal lawsuit against the new system on December 1, 2014. Utah Republican Party v Herbert, 2:14cv-876.

Last month, the Utah Constitution Party intervened in the lawsuit on the side of the Republican Party. The old law, practically speaking, permits the Constitution Party to nominate by convention. The new law would permit anyone, even someone who is not a member of the party, to submit a primary petition signed by 2% of the party’s members. If that petition succeeds, the party would be forced to nominate by primary for that particular office. The Constitution Party’s amended complaint explains how that would potentially injure the party.

Montana Bill on U.S. Senate Vacancies Passes State Senate

Posted on by February 18, 2015
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On February 17, the Montana Senate passed SB 169 by a vote of 48-2. It deals with vacancies in U.S. Senate seats. If there is a U.S. Senate vacancy, there would be a special election, in most cases. Before the special election, the Governor could appoint someone to serve until the special election is held. The gubernatorial appointee must be of the same party as the party that won that same seat in the last regular election. Furthermore, the Governor would be required to appoint one of three individuals suggested by that party’s executive committee. Thanks to Mike Fellows for this news.