At least 137 bills have been introduced in the California legislature, for the 2011-2012 session, according to the legislature’s web page. But there seem to be no bills changing the way candidates for federal or state office are elected. The California Secretary of State, and the California Association of County Election Officials, both seek changes to the law that implements the “top-two” system. The counties are worried that the administrative cost of printing ballots will be significantly higher than in the past, if no changes are made.
There is also the problem that the law is now internally contradictory on whether write-in space should be printed on November ballots, or on run-off ballots in special elections. The code continues to say that such write-in spaces should be printed. The sample ballots for the special election run-off in the First State Senate District do contain write-in space, although that election (set for January 4) is the last being conducted under the rules in effect before Prop. 14 passed. The law also continues to provide procedures for declared write-in candidates to file a declaration of write-in candidacy in all elections. On the other hand, the implementing language for Prop. 14 says write-in votes in November, or in special run-offs, can’t be counted.
Anyone, in any state, is free to check state legislative pages, looking for election law bills of interest. If you find interesting election law bills, please notify us all, either with a comment to this post, or with an e-mail to richardwinger@yahoo.com. Thank you. Of course in some states, no bills have been introduced yet.