The New York Times has this editorial, in support of public funding, in particular for state office campaigns in New York state. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.
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On April 18, Brian Berger, a New Hanover County, North Carolina County Commissioner, switched his voter registration from “Republican” to “Libertarian.” County Commission is a partisan elected office. See this story.
It is believed that Berger intends to resign soon from the Commission. The law says a vacancy should be filled by the party that the ex-member was a member of. The law is vague as to whether this means that the Republican Party, or the Libertarian Party, has the opportunity to suggest a new appointee. The article quotes the head of the county election board as saying that he believes the Republican Party should make the decision, but there is no clarity in the law about that.
The Clemson University student weekly newspaper, The Tiger News, has this column by Joshua Rooks, advocating that a new major political party arise in the United States. The Tiger News, founded in 1907, is the oldest student-run newspaper in South Carolina.
On April 19, the Montana legislature passed SB 408, which provides that the November 2014 ballot will ask voters if they wish to pass a top-two primary system. The vote was 29-20. Because this is just a measure to put a question on the ballot, it does not need to go to the Governor.
Meanwhile, the Secretary of State’s omnibus election law bill, HB 120, which was introduced months before SB 408, still hasn’t passed the legislature. It has passed each house, but the versions were different, and a conference committee will work on producing a single version of the bill.
On April 18, the Tennessee Senate unanimously passed SR 37, which sets up a Senate commission to study ballot access for minor parties. Read it here. Because this is just a Senate study, the resolution is now passed; there is no involvement with the House or the Governor.