According to this story in the Providence Journal, the Rhode Island State Board of Elections has redesigned the voter registration form, so that the form no longer lists the qualified parties. Instead the voter will be asked to write-in his or her party on a blank line on the petition form.

Rhode Island has three qualified parties, Democratic, Republican, and Moderate. The Moderate Party has criticized the new forms, because not listing the qualified parties has a disproportionate effect on the Moderate Party. Many, if not most, voters don’t know that the Moderate Party is a ballot-qualified party. The Board says the new forms will save money, because under the old policy, every time a new party qualified, the forms had to be reprinted. Thanks to Ken Block for the link.

On July 19, Lowell Nelson, vice-chair of the Utah Republican Party, testified in favor of Instant Runoff Voting. He was testifying to a legislative committee which is meeting, even though the legislature is not in session. See this story. Nelson suggested the system would be useful in both partisan primaries, and general elections, for state and federal office.

Political science professor Michael S. Latner and Kyle Roach have an article in the California Journal of Politics and Policy titled, “Mapping the Consequences of Electoral Reform”, which can be seen at this link. It sets forth the likely consequences if California used proportional representation for the lower house of its legislature, using sixteen 5-member districts. Thanks to Rob Richie for the link.