On May 10, the Texas House passed HB 3065, which continues a trend in Texas to have the government pay directly for the cost of holding partisan primaries. Ever since 1972, government in Texas has paid for party primaries. But the Texas method of payment has been unique in the nation. The Texas system, since 1972, has had the parties administer their own primaries, and then submit the bill for expenses to the state government, which then reimbuses the parties.

HB 3065 says that if the county election officials desire to bill the state directly, they may do so. That eliminates the party as the “middleman”. For the last few years, populous counties already had the ability to bill the state government directly, but HB 3065 extends this practice to all counties. Thanks to Jim Riley for this news.

Periodically the Georgia State Election Board invites the public to comment on any policy matter involving elections. On Tuesday, May 14, at 10 a.m., there will be such a meeting. Here is the agenda. Thanks to Garland Favorito for the link.

Two states, Michigan and Ohio, elect state judges in partisan elections, but both states have election laws that say party labels should not be on the ballot for judicial candidates, even though the candidates were nominated by political parties. In Michigan, party conventions choose nominees for Supreme Court Justice, and voters elect them in November, but the November ballot carries no party labels for these races, and voters must do independent research to learn which party nominated which candidate.

Ohio is somewhat similar. Voters in partisan primaries nominate candidates for Judge, and the winners appear on the November ballot. But, as in Michigan, party labels are not printed on the November ballot in these races, and voters must do independent research to know which party put which candidate on the ballot.

Recently, the Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice, Maureen O’Connor, told the State Bar that judicial partisan primaries should be eliminated, in favor of non-partisan primaries and elections. But Democratic Party state chair Chris Redfern, who apparently was at the same meeting, disagreed, saying the existing partisan primary system should be preserved, but that party labels should be placed on general election ballots. See this story.

In July 2010, the Ohio Democratic Party filed a federal lawsuit, to force the state to print party labels on general election ballots for judicial candidates. On August 19, 2010, U.S. District Court Susan Dlott refused to grant injunctive relief, but she still hasn’t ruled on declaratory relief. The opinion could come at any time. The case is Ohio Council 8 American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees v Husted, southern district, 1:10cv-504. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.