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Tenth Circuit Expedites Kansas-Arizona Case on Federal Voter Registration Form

Posted on May 20, 2014 by Richard WingerMay 20, 2014

On May 19, the Tenth Circuit expedited the lawsuit filed by Kansas and Arizona, over whether those states can force the federal government to alter the federal voter registration forms used in their states. The two states don’t like the federal voter registration postcard form because they say aliens may register to vote using the form. The form requires a signature under penalty of perjury, but the states want all applicants to attach proof of citizenship.

The three judges in the Tenth Circuit who expedited the case also stayed the U.S. District Court decision while the case is pending in the Tenth Circuit. The U.S. District Court Judge had refused to stay his opinion, and had ordered the form to be altered immediately. The three judges who have the case in the Tenth Circuit are Carlos Lucero (a Clinton appointee), Jerome Holmes (a Bush Jr. appointee), and Gregory Phillips (an Obama appointee).

Meanwhile, there are close to 20,000 unprocessed federal voter registration forms from Kansas alone. The Kansas primary is August 5. The case is Kobach v U.S. Election Assistance Commission, 14-3062. Thanks to Rick Hasen for this news.

U.S. District Court Enjoins Minnesota Campaign Contribution Limit

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Richard WingerMay 19, 2014

On May 19, U.S. District Court Judge Donovan W. Frank, a Clinton appointee, enjoined a Minnesota campaign contribution limit. Minnesota campaign finance laws say that after a candidate has received a certain number of large contributions, then future campaign contribution limits to that candidate are reduced to only 50% of the original individual limit.

For example, the first twelve donors to a candidate for state legislature may contribute a maximum of $1,000, but then the next donor may only contribute $500. Seaton v Wiener, cv14-1016. The basis for the decision is the recent U.S. Supreme Court McCutcheon decision. Thanks to Rick Hasen for this news.

New Jersey Voters Who Want to Vote in Major Party Primaries, but who Don’t Want to be Party Members, Obtain Extension of Time to File Their First Brief

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Richard WingerMay 19, 2014

On March 5, 2014, some New Jersey voters who want to vote in major party primaries, but who don’t want to be listed as party members, even for one day, filed a lawsuit, asserting that their right to vote is being denied. On May 9 the state filed a brief, asking that the lawsuit be dismissed.

Plaintiffs have now obtained an extension of time in which to file their first brief. It was to have been filed May 19, but the new deadline is July 3. The case is in U.S. District Court, and is Balsam v Guadagno, 2:14cv-1388.

Maryland Newspaper Carries Column Criticizing the Idea that Iowa and New Hampshire Have a Permanent Special Role in Presidential Nomination Process

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Richard WingerMay 19, 2014

Tom Harbold, columnist for the Carroll County Times (published in Westminster, Maryland), argues here that it is not fair that Iowa and New Hampshire seem to have a permanent right to hold the first major party presidential nomination events.

It is surprising that in a nation that pays lip service to political equality, virtually every voting rights organization, every important pundit, and officials of both major parties, seems to agree that it is legitimate to give the residents of two particular states a great deal more power over the presidential selection process than the residents of the other parts of the U.S.

Nat Weinstein Dies, Was a Leader of Socialist Workers Party, then Co-Founder of Socialist Action

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Richard WingerMay 19, 2014

On May 9, Nat Weinstein died in San Francisco at the age of 89. In 1945, at the age of 20, he had joined the Socialist Workers Party, where he rose to leadership positions in New York, Seattle, and San Francisco. He spent 69 years as a political activist, eventually leaving the Socialist Workers Party to co-found Socialist Action. See this obituary by Jeff Mackler. Thanks to IndependentPoliticalReport for the link.