Until 2010, Rhode Island voter registration forms, like the voter registration forms of almost all other states that have registration by party, listed the qualified parties. Voters could choose one by checking a box. But in 2010, the Rhode Island Board of Elections deleted the names of the qualified parties, and just left a blank line for the voter to write in the name of a party.

However, on September 13, the Board reversed the 2010 decision, and the new forms will again list the qualified parties. They qualified parties in Rhode Island are Democratic, Republican, and Moderate. The Moderate Party is especially happy with this development, because whereas most people know about the two major parties, a substantial number of people are not aware of the Moderate Party.

According to this story, today’s 3rd circuit order putting Carl Lewis on the ballot will be appealed. The appeal will either be to the U.S. Supreme Court, or to the entire 3rd circuit. Although it would be somewhat inaccurate to expect judges to vote according to their own partisan leanings, it is interesting that the 3rd circuit has 13 full-time judges, including seven appointed by Democratic presidents, and six by Republican presidents.

On September 12, a bill was introduced in the Ohio legislature to move the primary in presidential election years from March to May (in non-presidential years, the Ohio primary is already in May). The bill is SB 217, and it has an urgency clause, so that it can go into effect immediately after it is signed into law.

If this bill passes, it will have no effect on petition deadlines for newly-qualifying parties, because of the court decision earlier this month that the Ohio statutory deadline for new party petitions is too early, whether the primary is in May or March. Under the statutory law, petitions for newly-qualifying parties are due 90 days before the primary.

Another Ohio bill, HB 194, already passed this year, moving the primary in presidential election years from March to May. That is the same omnibus election law bill that is the subject of a referendum petition, so it won’t go into effect in 2012 if the referendum gets enough valid signatures. Because no one can predict what will happen to HB 194, the separate bill to just move the primary was introduced. Thanks to Frontloading HQ for the news.