Brian Kemp, the Secretary of State of Georgia, and a Republican, wants as many southern states as possible to hold their presidential primaries in early March in 2016. See this report from Frontloading HQ.
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Two California Democratic State Senators, both of them members of the Senate Elections Committee and both running for Secretary of State this year, say they are concerned about ballot access problems for minor parties. See this story. They seem particularly interested in the problem that the number of signatures for minor parties to get on the primary ballot, in lieu of the filing fee, increased wildly in 2012, due to implementation of the top-two system.
California Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez (D-Chula Vista) has introduced AB 1873, to provide that counties and other local governments could use all-postal balloting for special elections if they wish, although in addition to the mail-ballots, they would also need to provide centers for people to use who don’t wish to vote by mail. But there would be no general opening of neighborhood polling places. Thanks to Rob Richie for this news.
On February 14, George Anastaplo died at the age of 85. See this story. He became well-known for refusing to answer a question as to whether he was a member of the Communist Party. As a result, he was denied the ability to become a member of the Illinois Bar. In 1960 he argued in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in his own defense, even though he was not an attorney. He lost his case 5-4, with a dissent written by Justices Hugo Black and signed by Earl Warren, William Brennan, and William O. Douglas. Thanks to How Appealing for the link.
On February 20, the New Hampshire House Election Law Committee passed HB 1322 by a vote of 14-1. This is the bill to change the definition of “party” from a group that polled 4% for either Governor or U.S. Senator, to 3% for either office. The lone “no” vote was cast by Rep. Shawn Jasper (R-Hudson).
If the bill eventually is signed into law, it would have no immediate impact. The only minor party candidate on the ballot in 2012 for Governor was the Libertarian nominee, John Babiarz, who got 2.78%. New Hampshire elects its Governor every two years. The median vote test of the 50 states is 2%. Thanks to Darryl Perry for the news.