On February 2, Michael Chamness filed his opening brief in Chamness v Bowen in the 9th circuit. This is the case that challenges two particular aspects of California’s system that are not present in Washington state’s top-two system: (1) some candidates may choose a party label and others may not; (2) write-in space is printed on ballots but write-ins can’t be counted, in November elections for Congress and state office.

The legislature recently enacted a bill, AB 1413, to eliminate write-in space form the ballot, but that bill has not yet been signed.

On February 2, Virginia HB 1132 was amended. As originally introduced, it said that write-in votes are permitted in primaries. As amended, it gives each party the authority to decide for itself whether it wants write-ins in its primaries.

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors will decide, either on February 7 or February 14, whether to place a ballot measure on the ballot, or perhaps two ballot measures on the ballot, concerning Instant Runoff Voting. One measure that may be put on the ballot is to eliminate IRV, and return to the system of two rounds of elections for city office. The other idea that may be placed on the ballot is to expand IRV so that each voter may indicate more choices for any one office other than just First, Second and Third Choice.

If the Board approves putting either of these measures on the ballot, or both of them, the Board will also decide whether to put them on the June ballot or the November ballot. The date of the February hearing should be clearer on February 3. UPDATE: the Supervisors cannot act to put the measures on the ballot until their February 14 meeting. But they could table either or both measures on February 7. Thanks to Steve Hill for this news.