Idaho Republican State Convention Will Consider Expanding the Kinds of Voters who can Vote in the 2014 Republican Primary

The Idaho Republican Party state convention on June 21-23 will consider a resolution to let independent voters vote in the party’s May 2014 primary. It is possible the resolution also permits all registered voters to vote in the party’s primary. Idaho law currently lets parties decide for themselves which voters may vote in that party’s primary.

North Carolina Legislature Extends Session to July 2

The North Carolina ballot access bill, HB 32, still has a chance to pass the legislature. The session had been expected to end on June 19, but now the new expected date of adjournment is July 2. The bill passed the House last year, and also passed the Senate Rules Committee last year. It reduces the number of signatures needed for newly-qualifying parties and independent candidates. Currently North Carolina requires more signatures for statewide office than any other state except California.

South Carolina Republican Party Lawsuit Over Open Primary Delayed for Six More Months

It has been over two years since the South Carolina Republican Party filed a federal lawsuit over whether the party can limit its primary to voters who identify with the party. The case is Greenville County Republican Party v State of South Carolina, 6:10-cv-1407. The case is far from being decided.

Back on August 2, 2011, a scheduling order provided that all briefs and discovery ought to be finished by June 15, 2012. But since then, the scheduling order has been revised several times. Currently, briefs and discovery are due by December 2012 and a trial is expected in January 2013.

Current law provides for an open primary for all parties that hold primaries. The Republican Party wants to exclude voters who are not sympathetic to the Republican Party.

T. J. O’Hara, Who Placed Fifth in Americans Elect Primary, Reveals Details of Running in Americans Elect Process

T. J. O’Hara, a businessman from San Diego County, California, received the fifth highest number of clicks in the Americans Elect nomination process. He has this article in the Washington Times, providing an account of how the Americans Elect web page and voting system was flawed.

O’Hara received 584 clicks. The candidates who received more clicks were Buddy Roemer with 6,293; Rocky Anderson with 3,390; Michealene Risley with 2,351; and Laurence Kotlikoff with 2,027.