On February 24, the Kentucky Supreme Court issued a two-page order, agreeing with a lower state court that the new legislative district boundaries are unconstitutional. Here is the lower court opinion, which struck down the new boundaries because the population of the districts deviates by almost 6%, and because too many counties were split.

The districts that were in use 2001-2010 will be used, unless the legislature is able to quickly draw up a new plan. Filing for the primary had already started. Candidates who now wish to withdraw will not get a refund on their filing fees, but they will be permitted to run regardless of their residency.

This development has no direct impact on independent candidates, or the nominees of unqualified parties. Those candidates are not required to file their petitions until early August, and are not required to file a declaration of candidacy until April. Kentucky has no ballot-qualified parties other than the Democratic and Republican Parties.

For the last few weeks, virtually everyone who has been following the Texas redistricting trial has assumed that the Texas primary this year will be May 29. However, on February 24, the Texas Republican Party state chair issued a letter, warning that there is a possibility the primary won’t be held until June 26. Here is the letter. Thanks to TexasRedistricting blog for the link.

A June 26 primary would require a major revision to the state’s procedure for independent presidential candidates, because the independent presidential petition can’t begin to circulate until after the primary.

February 24 was the last day for Republican presidential candidates to file their petitions for the April 24 presidential primary in Delaware. The state requires 500 signatures of party members. The only candidates who filed in the Republican primary are Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, and Rick Santorum.