The United States Election Project, which studies turnout, has revised its figures for the November 2014 election. See here. The Project still estimates that 36.2% of the voters who could have participated did so. The link has figures for each of the 50 states, unlike the original data that omitted Indiana, Missouri, Utah, and Washington.
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear Reed v Town of Gilbert on January 12, 2015. This is the case challenging restrictions on outdoor signs. Although it is not an election law case, all First Amendment cases inevitably affect election law. The Ninth Circuit had upheld the town’s restrictions on signs, both as to size, and as to how long they may remain up. The case was brought by a church that doesn’t have its own church building and depends on signs to inform the public of where its services are.
Michael Steele, former Republican National Committee Chair, seems inclined to support the National Popular Vote Plan for presidential elections. See this story.
As of the close of business on Friday, November 21, the Oregon initiative requiring labels for genetically engineered foods is very close. “Yes” is 752,163; “no” is 753,239. With a margin of only 1,076 votes, and many remaining uncounted ballots, it seems somewhat likely a recount will be held. See this story.
On November 4, Constitution Party member Ronnie Broughton was re-elected to the Webster Parish, Louisiana School Board, in a partisan election. Because he was unopposed, that office in his district was omitted from the ballot.
Also on November 4, Constitution Party member Randy Fontenot placed first in a partisan election for Police Chief of Eunice, Louisiana. He was opposed by two Democrats and two Republicans, and got 40.8% of the total vote. Because no one got 50%, he is in the December 6 run-off against a Democrat. He is likely to win because his Democratic opponent only got 23% of the vote in November. Because the Constitution Party is not ballot-qualified in Louisiana, Fontenot’s name was on the ballot with no party label whatsoever next to his name. He is a registered member of the Constitution Party, and in November 2012, was the lead presidential elector candidate for the Constitution Party.
