On January 16, the Maryland State Board of Elections determined that the Green Party petition to renew its party status has enough valid signatures. The party will now be on the ballot in 2016 and 2018.
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On January 16, the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission filed this brief in the U.S. Supreme Court, in the case called Arizona State Legislature v Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, 13-1314. Under Arizona’s constitution, the Commission is responsible for drawing U.S. House and legislative district boundaries after each census. The legislature sued the commission, arguing that the U.S. Constitution, Article One, says that only state legislatures may exercise the power to redraw the U.S. House districts. The lower court sided with the Redistricting Commission 2-1, and then the legislature appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, and the U.S. Supreme Court took the case. The oral argument will be March 2. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link. The brief is quite interesting.
West Virginia State Senator Charles Trump (R-Martinsburg) has introduced SB 249, to eliminate the straight-ticket device. The bill is co-sponsored by four other Republican Senators, Craig Blair, Ryan Ferns, Mike Hall, and Chris Walters.
Republicans have a tiny majority in the State Senate and a large majority in the House. The Governor is a Democrat. Thanks to Jeff Becker for this news.
On January 22, the Virginia House Subcommittee on Elections will hold a hearing on HB 1463, which eases the vote test for a group to be a qualified party, from a vote of 10%, to a vote of 4%, for any statewide race. The hearing is at 7:30 a.m. Thanks to Bill Redpath for this news.
The Washington Post has this summary of when presidential primaries will be held in each state in 2016. The article reveals how much uncertainty still remains for many states.
These states will hold a presidential primary for the Libertarian Party: Arizona; California; Delaware if any Libertarians can get on the party’s presidential primary ballot, which is very difficult; Idaho if at least two Libertarians file; Missouri; Montana if at least two Libertarians file; Nebraska; North Carolina; Oklahoma if the party gets on the ballot; South Dakota if the party gets on the ballot.
These jurisdictions will hold a presidential primary for the Green Party: Arizona; California; Delaware with the same note as for the Libertarians; District of Columbia; Massachusetts; New York; Ohio.