Both houses of the Oklahoma legislature have now appointed representatives to a conference committee for HB 2134. This is the bill that lowers the number of signatures for newly-qualifying parties. The Senate version of the bill also lowers the number of signatures for independent presidential candidates and the presidential nominees of unqualified parties.

The purpose of a conference committee is to work out a common bill that both houses are likely to support. The bill has already passed both houses, but different versions passed in each house. The legislature adjourns May 30.

On May 13, Public Policy Polling released a poll for the North Carolina U.S. Senate race. The results: Democratic incumbent Kay Hagan 38%, Republican Thom Tillis 36%, Libertarian Sean Haugh 11%, undecided 15%. See here for more details. Thanks to PoliticalWire for the link.

North Carolina does not have any other statewide offices on the ballot this year. All the state executive posts are elected in presidential years.

On May 12, one of the petitioners for Congressman John Conyers filed her own lawsuit against the Michigan law that says only registered voters can circulate candidate petitions. An additional plaintiff is a voter who wants to vote for Conyers. The case is Willis-Pittman v Johnson, e.d., 2:14cv-11903. The case is assigned to Judge Linda Parker, who has only been a federal judge since March 2014. Thanks to Thomas Jones for this news.