California Assemblymember Kristen Olsen (R-Modesto) has introduced ACA 10 and AB 1075. They provide that if a candidate in the June primary for partisan state office receives at least 60% of the vote, then that person is elected. The proposed amendment to the California constitution is thus the second proposal introduced this year to alter the top-two system. The Olsen bills do not pertain to Congress, because federal law requires California and all states to hold congressional elections in November.

If the Olsen proposal had been in effect in 2012, eight of the twenty State Senate races, and twenty-one of the eighty Assembly races, would have been decided in June. Olsen herself, who received 65.0% of the June primary vote, would have been re-elected in June and would not have had to run in November. Thanks to David Kadlecek for this news.

The California Independent Voters Network has this column, criticizing the California bill that would impose restrictions on the ability of write-in candidates in the June primary to appear on the November ballot, even if such candidates did place second in the June primary.

The Peace & Freedom Party has hired a professional who will work to increase the party’s registration in California, and who will also train party volunteers on voter registration work. In addition, Cindy Sheehan, who has been a registered member of the party since 2010, has agreed to run for Governor in 2014, and the party has already endorsed her. See news of all these developments here at the party’s web page.