As noted here last week, if Jerry Trudell can raise enough contributions to pay for the transcript in the lower Vermont state court, he can appeal to the Vermont Supreme Court. This blog has been asking individuals to pledge a contribution toward the $2,000 goal. If you are willing to pledge any amount, please e-mail richardwinger@yahoo.com. At this time only pledges are being solicited; they would not necessarily turn into contributions unless the pledges total the goal, or very close to it. On November 16 a contribution for $100 was pledged, so the total pledged is now $840.

The issue in the case is the constitutionality of Vermont’s independent candidate petition deadline. The 2009 legislature moved it from September to June, a drastic change. The primary is in August. The change even damages independent presidential candidates.

The Associated Press and the Virginia Capitol Correspondents Association plans to hold a debate on December 7, 2011, for two particular candidates for U.S. Senate in the November 6, 2012 election. See this story, which says that other candidates for the same seat are suing to set aside the criteria, which are that the candidate must be at 15% in polls. It seems absurd to expect most candidates to be at 15% in polls, when the election is almost a year away. The two invited candidates are both former Governors, so they have high name recognition in Virginia and can comply with the polling requirement. The two invited candidates are Republican George Allen and Democrat Tim Kaine.

Virginia’s primary for the U.S. Senate race is in June 2012. The AP/Virginia Capitol Correspondents Association makes as little sense as holding a December 2011 debate for U.S. President between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.

On November 15, the Peoria, Illinois city council voted to retain cumulative voting for its five at-large city council seats. Thanks to Rick Hasen for this news.