On May 19, the California Assembly passed HB 459 by a vote of 51-21. This is the bill to provide that California join the National Popular Vote Plan compact.
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Florida Governor Rick Scott told a reporter for the Miami Herald that he “won’t sign a bill that discourages people from voting.” The reporter had been trying to find out if Scott intends to sign HB 1355. HB 1355 makes it virtually impossible for a new party to place a presidential nominee on the ballot, although the bill is so huge, and does so many other things, Florida newspapers never mention that aspect of the bill. See this story. The story says Scott must make up his mind by Saturday, May 21.
Currently, Louisiana lets independent presidential candidates list themselves on the ballot as “independent” (or any other short label they wish, if the label does not mimic the name of a qualified party). But current Louisiana law does not permit independent candidates for other office to use the label “independent.” Instead they are on the ballot as “no party.”
On May 18, the Secretary of State’s omnibus election law bill was amended to say that independent candidates for all office should be on the ballot with the label “independent” instead of “no party.” The bill passed the House Committee on Governmental Affairs on May 18. The bill also deletes the names of candidates for presidential elector from the November ballot, so as to make for a shorter and simpler ballot.
On May 18, the Connecticut House passed HB 6532, which moves the presidential primary from February to the last Tuesday in April. The bill has no effect on petition deadlines for independent and minor parties to get on the November ballot. Thanks to Frontloading HQ for this news. HB 6532, as introduced, had moved the presidential primary to March, but the bill was then amended to change to late April.
Oklahoma’s SB 91 had originally required birth certificates for presidential candidates, but the bill has been amended to drop that requirement. Instead, the bill adds some requirements for candidates filing for office other than president. They must submit a copy of their voter registration affidavit; also, the bill sets up procedures for challenging the candidacy of a candidate for office other than president.
Ironically, the newly amended bill, if signed into law, would be unconstitutional as applied to congressional candidates. The 10th circuit includes Oklahoma, and the 10th circuit ruled in Campbell v Davidson, 233 F.3d 1229 (2000), that states cannot require candidates for Congress to be registered voters. Article One of the U.S. Constitution sets forth the requirements for individuals to run for, and hold, office in Congress, and do not include any requirement for being a registered voter.
SB 91 has no effect on anyone running for President, because it does not amend the part of the law on how candidates apply to run for President in either the presidential primary or the general election. Because SB 91 no longer requires birth certificates for presidential candidates, it is now true that no bill in any state this year, requiring birth certificates for presidential candidates, will have passed. Thanks to the commenter who posts under the name “Welsh Dragon” for this news.