Jerry Goldfeder, one of the leading experts on New York election law, has this column in CityLand, advocating improvements in New York state election law. He calls for easier ballot access. He also calls for easing the restrictive law that does not permit voters to change parties within eleven months of a primary. This is by far the most restrictive such law in the nation.

Unfortunately, Goldfeder did not call for improving New York ballot format. New York has the nation’s most confusing ballot, followed closely by the ballot used in most counties in New Jersey. Both New York and New Jersey ballots hide “unimportant” candidates in far corners of the ballot, where many voters don’t even notice their names. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.

California State Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) will not attempt to advance SCA 12 and SB 712 this year. This is the proposed constitutional amendment and bill to make it more difficult for write-in candidates in a partisan primary to advance to the general election. Current law says whoever comes in second in the June primary for Congress and state office advances to the November ballot. The bill would have said if the person who comes in second is a write-in in the June primary, he or she can’t appear on the November ballot unless the candidate polled a very large number of write-in votes.

On April 11, the Illinois House passed HJRCA 18, which would abolish the office of Lieutenant Governor. If it became law, and the Governorship became vacant, the Attorney General would become Governor. The vote was 83-28. If it also passes the Senate, the voters would vote on it in 2014. The motivation is to save money. Thanks to Ken Bush for this news.