Ballot Access News

Josh Putnam of Frontloading HQ has this post about a bill introduced in Kansas to abolish the presidential primary. The bill, HB 2126, was introduced at the request of the Secretary of State, in order to save money. Kansas has only actually held presidential primaries twice, in 1980 and 1992. Since then, generally the legislature passes a bill before each presidential election year, suspending the presidential primary for the upcoming election only. But the new bill seems to do away with the presidential primary completely.

Medill Reports is an on-line publication, prepared by graduate journalism students at Northwestern University. This article in Medill Reports describes the habit of WTTW-TV to host debates, but to exclude some ballot-listed candidates. On January 17, the TV station, which receives substantial funding from the government, hosted a TV debate for four of the candidates for Mayor of Chicago, although six candidates are on the ballot. The article also mentions that WTTW is being sued for a similar discriminatory policy last year, when it hosted a general election gubernatorial debate and invited only the two major party nominees. Thanks to Christina Tobin for the link.

On January 28, the West Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee passed SB 261, which provides for a June 20 primary for Governor this year, in the special gubernatorial election that will be held in October. If the bill fails to become law, there will be no primary and the three qualified parties will choose a nominee in conventions.