Bills are pending in the Rhode Island legislature to abolish the straight-ticket device. On April 10, supporters of those bills released a study, showing that in November 2012, the Speaker of the House would probably have been defeated by an independent candidate if the straight-ticket device did not exist.

Only two candidates were on the ballot in November 2012 in the State House race for the 4th district: Gordon Fox, the Democratic nominee and the House speaker; and independent candidate Mark Binder. The vote was: Fox 3,590; Binder 2,595. In that district, 1,469 voters used the straight-ticket device for the Democratic Party. This shows that the voters who did not use the straight-ticket device preferred Binder. The data suggests, but cannot prove, that the straight-ticket device changes election outcomes. Independent candidates do not have their own straight-ticket device, and it is probable that most of the voters in 2012 who used the straight-ticket device didn’t even notice who the candidates for State House were.

On April 9, the California Assembly Elections Committee passed AB 1038 on a vote of 5-2. It makes it illegal to pay registration drive workers on the basis of how many registration cards they submit listing any particular party. This would injure the ability of new parties to get on the ballot, or old parties to remain on the ballot. Parties cannot be qualified in California unless they have approximately 110,000 registered members.

The vote was 5-2. All the Democrats voted “Yes” and all the Republicans voted “No.” At the hearing, seven individuals testified against the bill, including members of the Green, Libertarian, and Peace & Freedom Parties. The ACLU of California submitted a letter in opposition to the bill, but the ACLU lobbyist did not testify in person. The legislature passed somewhat similar bills in 2011 and 2012, but both times Governor Jerry Brown vetoed the bill.

Unlike previous years, this year the Secretary of State did not endorse the bill. Barry Brokaw, the lobbyist for the organization of California county election officials, testified in person that the organization has no formal position on the bill, and yet he said the organization does not oppose the bill, a statement that is not logical. The name of that organization is the California Association of County Election Officials, CACEO.

On April 9, Illinois held a special U.S. House election, 2nd district. The unofficial results are: Democrat Robin Kelly 57,985 (70.78%); Republican Paul McKinley 18,071 (22.06%); Green LeAlan Jones 1,503 (1.83%); and these three independent candidates Elizabeth Pahlke 2,477 (3.02%); Marcus Lewis 1,344 (1.64%); Curtiss Lleng Bey 538 (.66%).

When this seat was up last time, in November 2012, the results were: Democrat Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. 63.25%; Republican Brian Woodworth 23.22%; independent Marcus Lewis 13.44%; write-ins .10%. Thanks to Michael for the new election results.