The Federal Election Commission meets on February 14, and will consider the Socialist Workers Party’s request to extend its exemption from having to report its campaign contributors and expenditures at that meeting. The SWP won an exemption in 1974 but it expired on December 31, 2012. The basis for the party’s having been exempt during the last 28 years was that the party demonstrated that individuals identified as members or supporters of the party, in the past, were in danger of harassment both from certain government agencies and from private individuals and groups. Thanks to Rick Hasen for this news.

National Journal has this article about the difficulty for candidates for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts, especially those who are trying to get on a primary ballot, because of the weather. The primary petitions are due February 27.

Unfortunately, reporters for even the best-quality publications (Boston Globe, National Journal) never mention that Massachusetts is among the strictest states in the nation for primary ballot access. Nor do any of these articles ever mention there is a bill pending in the legislature to ease the requirements. Nor do the reporters mention the considerable body of case law that says petition requirements in special elections must be eased when the normal length of petitioning is not available.

On February 6, the Colorado Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee heard testimony on SB 65, a bill to permit cities and counties to use Approval Voting if they wish, for their own local elections. The bill was defeated 3-2 after Colorado local elections officials testified against it. Approval Voting lets voters cast votes for as many candidates as they wish (even though only one person is being elected). Thanks to Frank Atwood for this news.