As noted previously, in February 2013, two candidates ran for Alderman in one particular district in Macomb, Illinois. One candidate received 17 votes and the other received 16 votes. The city ruled that someone who receives 51.51% of the vote (which is the percentage for 17/33) didn’t receive a majority. However, that rule is not written down. The candidate who received 17 votes sued to stop the city from holding a run-off on April 9.

The judge hearing the case ruled that the two candidates should again run against each other on April 9, but that the results should be sealed. A hearing will be held on April 26 and the judge will then rule on whether the candidate who received 17 votes did receive a majority. Only if the judge rules that no one had a majority will the results of the April 9 run-off become known. See this story.

Joe Mathews has this opinion piece in Fox & Hounds, commenting on John Wildemuth’s earlier piece about why top-two systems are desirable. Both Mathews and Wildemuth are California journalists and writers. Thanks to Rob Richie for the link.

Dan Winslow, a Republican candidate in the special U.S. Senate election in Massachusetts, has asked the Federal Election Commission whether he can accept a contribution of $5,200 from a Massachusetts married same-sex couple. If the couple were of opposite sex, this contribution would be legal. See this story. Thanks to the Center for Competitive Politics for the link.