Dan Morain, senior editor for the Sacramento Bee, has this article about Americans Elect. It carries interesting details about some of the experienced political consultants that are now working for Americans Elect.
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New York state is trying to persuade the federal government to give it a waiver of the 2009 law that tells all states they must send overseas absentee ballots no later than 45 days before any federal primary or federal general election. See this letter, sent by the state on September 21.
New York holds its non-presidential primary in September, and the state wants to continue that policy in 2012. The state promises to move the primary date to an earlier month, starting in 2013. Thanks to the Election Law Center for the link.
On September 26, California Governor Jerry Brown signed many bills, and vetoed a few bills. But he did not act on three interesting election law bills: (1) SB 202, which says statewide initiatives cannot be placed on primary ballots; (2) SB 205, which makes it illegal for voter registration workers to be paid on a per-registration card basis; (3) SB 397, which makes it possible for people to register to vote on-line.
Ballot Access News erroneously omitted the Oregon data, on how money each political party receives from state income tax check-off forms, when it published this data in the September 1, 2011 print edition. The Oregon legislature, in 2009, provided that state income tax forms should make it easy for a taxpayer to send a small contribution to any qualified party.
During 2010, the parties received these amounts: Democratic $15,698; Republican $5,160; Pacific Green $1,203; Independent Party $722; Working Families $615; Libertarian $498; Peace Party $390; Constitution $225.
During 2011, so far, the parties have received these amounts: Democratic $16,395; Republican $4,507; Pacific Green $957; Independent Party $705; Progressive Party (formerly named Peace Party) $432; Working Families $429; Libertarian $390; Constitution $201. Thanks to Dan Meek for the information that Oregon now has a tax check-off to benefit political parties. Fourteen states have such a program, although Idaho has abolished it starting next year.
On September 26, New Jersey bill A3777 was signed into law. It moves the presidential primary from February to June. The bill has no effect on petition deadlines for minor party or independent candidates. Thanks to Frontloading HQ for this news.