On February 16, the Georgia House Government Committee passed HB 949, which reduces petition requirements for minor party and independent candidates by approximately 25%.
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On February 16, the Alabama House Constitution, Campaigns & Elections Committee passed HB 44. The bill increases the “no-politics zone” distance from 30 feet to 150 feet from the door of the building. The bill was amended in Committee to cover all elections for state and local office, which seems to imply that the bill doesn’t apply to polling places when a federal office is on the ballot. However, that is not clear.
On February 17, a 3-judge U.S. District Court was convened in New Mexico to hear a challenge to the state’s redistricting plan for State House of Representatives. Like similar disputes in other states, this dispute has the potential to require a later filing deadline for candidates this year. New Mexico’s primary is June 5.
On February 17, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay in American Tradition Partnership v Bullock, 11A762. This is the case that reached the U.S. Supreme Court from the Montana Supreme Court, over whether corporations may make independent expenditures favoring or opposing candidates for state office. The Montana Supreme Court, on December 30, 2011, had upheld the Montana law making such independent expenditures illegal. The U.S. Supreme Court action of February 17 will let corporations make such expenditures, starting today, but only on a temporary basis, until the case is finally settled.
It is very likely the U.S. Supreme Court will hear this case. Here is the U.S. Supreme Court order. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.
Puerto Rico will vote on November 6, 2012, on what its future political status should be. The first question will ask the voters if they are satisfied with the status quo. The second question will ask voters to either support or oppose three alternatives: (1) statehood; (2) independence; (3) free association with the United States as an independent country. The third alternative is somewhat like the relationship between the United States and three former possessions, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau. Although those three countries are independent, they have a special relationship with the United States. The U.S. handles their postal system, and post offices in each of them have U.S. zip codes. Also, their citizens may freely travel between the United States and their home countries. See this article for more details.
The previous votes in Puerto Rico were in 1967, 1993, and 1998. In each of these elections, the status quo always won, although there was always a strong minority in favor of statehood.