The January 31 Tacoma News-Tribune has this op-ed by John S. Mills, explaining that the Washington state top-two system has given voters greatly restricted choice in Washington state general elections. Mills focuses on the disappearance of minor party candidates from the November ballot.

Although his op-ed does not say so, minor party or independent candidates appeared on the November ballot in Washington state for Congress, or statewide office, or both, in all elections from statehood in 1890 through 2006. But when Washington switched to the top-two system, minor parties ceased appearing on the November ballot, except for President (top-two systems never apply to presidential elections), and except for a handful of legislative races in which only one major party member ran. Thanks to Will Baker for the link.

This story describes the hearing held on January 31 in Washington, D.C., in the case over whether the Texas legislature’s redistricting plan for U.S. House and state legislature violate the Voting Rights Act.

On January 31, the Eleventh Circuit upheld Florida’s new initiative that says when U.S. House districts are drawn, the legislature must not favor or disfavor any political party or any incumbent. Here is the 32-page decision, Brown v Florida House of Representatives, 11-14554.

The Florida initiative had been challenged by Democratic U.S. House member Corrine Brown, and Republican U.S. House member Mario Diaz-Balart. The U.S. District Court had also upheld the initiative. The two members of Congress had argued that Article One of the U.S. Constitution requires that only legislatures pass laws concerning congressional elections. But the Eleventh Circuit said that “legislature” within Article One includes the initiative process, because Florida’s constitution itself contemplates that the voters exercise legislative powers when they use the initiative. In a sense, the voters become the legislature. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link. UPDATE: see this news story about the decision.