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Georgia Moves Primaries from July to May

Posted on January 22, 2014 by Richard WingerJanuary 22, 2014

On January 21, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal signed HB 310. It moves the Georgia non-presidential primary from July to May. This is the earliest Georgia has ever held congressional primaries and primaries for state office. Between 1916 and 1968, Georgia primaries were in September; then they were moved to August; then July; and now May.

The new formula for determining the primary date is the day that is 24 weeks before the general election. For 2014, that is May 20.

The bill does not change any petition deadlines for minor party and independent candidates. But the bill does move the dates forward for all candidates to pay their filing fees. Thanks to Tony Roza for this news.

Georgia Does Not Ask for Reconsideration in Green Party-Constitution Party Ballot Access Case

Posted on January 22, 2014 by Richard WingerJanuary 22, 2014

Georgia state officials will not ask for reconsideration of the January 6 order of the Eleventh Circuit that remanded the ballot access case back to the U.S. District Court. The time period for the state to have asked for that has now passed. This means that the case is now back in the U.S. District Court for certain. The issue is whether presidential ballot access in Georgia is too difficult. No one has complied with the Georgia procedures for president in the general election in fourteen years.

Oral Argument Goes Badly for Common Cause, in Filibuster Lawsuit

Posted on January 21, 2014 by Richard WingerJanuary 21, 2014

On January 21, the U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit, held oral arguments in Common Cause v Biden, a challenge to the filibuster. According to this story, the three judges seem overwhelmingly likely to reject the lawsuit. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.

New York Times Story on Recent New Jersey Judicial Appointment Shows that Bipartisanship is Not Always an Ideal

Posted on January 21, 2014 by Richard WingerJanuary 21, 2014

The January 21 issue of the New York Times has a story about a recent judicial appointment by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. According to the story, the appointee, who will be leaving the job of chief executive of the Delaware River Port Authority, has a bad record for integrity and stewardship of public funds. The story also explains that the boss of the Democratic Party of southern New Jersey is a close associate, and that Democrats in the State Senate supported the appointment even though, according to the facts brought out in the story, they should not have approved him. As is well known, Governor Christie is a Republican. Be sure to read the last third of the story.

Ballot Access Bill Now Introduced in Both Houses of Alabama Legislature

Posted on January 21, 2014 by Richard WingerJanuary 21, 2014

The Alabama ballot access reform bill that had already been introduced into the Senate as SB 70 is also now introduced in the House. It is HB 327, by Representative John Merrill (R-Tuscaloosa). Merrill is only in his first term in the legislature, but he is running in the Republican primary for Secretary of State, and he is considered the frontrunner. Thanks to Joshua Cassity for this news.