On December 13, the U.S. Senate passed the bill that increases the amount of contributions individuals may give to national committees of political parties. See this story. The bill now goes to President Obama, who has already said he will sign it.
This article, about top-two primaries, appeared on Bloomberg news services. The author, Greg Giroux, wrote a balanced account. However, he failed to mention the leading criticism of top-two systems, that they injure voters who wish to vote for minor party and independent candidates in the general election.
On December 2, the Washington, D.C. city council voted 10-3 in favor of B20-0265. It moves the presidential primary from early April to the second Tuesday in June. It also moves the primary for other office from April to the first Tuesday in September.
Before 2012, the primary for office other than President was the second Tuesday in September. That date was abandoned because of the Congressional mandate that all jurisdictions holding federal elections send out overseas absentee ballots no later than 45 days before any primary or election. But holding the primary on the first week in September should handle that problem. States that still hold congressional primaries in September are Delaware, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire.
If the Republican Party decides to hold its national convention in late June, the proposed Washington, D.C. presidential primary date of the second Tuesday in June won’t be practical, and this area of the law will need to be revisited again. Thanks to Bruce Majors for this news.
Here is a link to the November 4, 2014 Statement of Votes for California, from the Secretary of State’s web page.
On December 12, the Ohio legislature passed HJR 12. It will be presented to the voters in the November 2015 election. It would require that state legislative districts be drawn so as not to favor or disfavor any particular party. It would also require the district boundaries to avoid splitting neighborhoods, cities, and towns, except when necessary. If it passes, it would still leave redistricting in the hands of elected state politicians, including the legislature and some of the statewide elected executive posts.
