Nine Democratic members of the New Hampshire House, along with the independent member, have introduced CACR 10. It would amend the State Constitution to convert gubernatorial terms from two years to four years. Currently, all states have four year gubernatorial terms except for New Hamnpshire and Vermont, which elect governors every two years. Thanks to Howard Wilson for this news.
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.
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.
