Louisiana Senate Committee Refuses to Pass Bill Moving Presidential Primary from February to March

Posted on by June 15, 2011
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On June 15, the Louisiana Senate & Governmental Affairs Committee voted to defer HB 509. Because the legislature adjourns in a week, this action severely injures the bill, although it could still be revived. HB 509 moves the presidential primary from February to March. If Louisiana does not move its primary out of February, the national Democratic Party rules, and the national Republican Party rules, if enforced, will cost the state half its delegates to the national conventions. See this story.

The major party rules do not permit any presidential primaries or caucuses earlier than March, except for Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina.

California Senate Expected to Vote on Moving Presidential Primary on Monday, June 20

Posted on by June 14, 2011
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The California State Senate will probably vote on AB 80 on Wednesday, June 15. This is the bill to move the presidential primary from February to June. UPDATE: the vote has been postponed until Thursday, June 16. The Senate spent June 15 on budget bills instead of ordinary bills. UPDATE: the vote has been postponed again, to June 20, Monday.

Republican, Democratic Party Briefs in Washington State Case Against Top-Two

Posted on by June 14, 2011
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The Republican Party of Washington state, and the Democratic Party of Washington state, each filed briefs with the 9th circuit on June 6, in the pending lawsuit against that state’s top-two system. Here is the Republican brief; here is the Democratic brief. Thanks to the Washington Secretary of State’s web page for the links.

Both briefs concentrate on the point that the Washington state top-two system links candidates with parties, via labels on the ballot, even though those candidates may not even be members of that party, and in any event may not have the approval of that party. The Republican brief also points out that “party preference” must be included in any advertising about any particular candidate, so if the Republican Party would want to run an ad attacking a candidate who is using the Republican label on the ballot, but whom the party believes is not a bona fide Republican, that very ad must also contradict itself by saying that candidate is a Republican.

Both briefs include reference to the evidence presented to the U.S. District Court, including evidence that even supporters of the top-two system commonly equate “party preference” with actual affiliation.

The Libertarian Party brief, which will discuss ballot access and trademark, is due June 20.

Georgia Secretary of State Elections Advisory Hearing Set for June 15 in Albany

Posted on by June 14, 2011
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On June 15, the Georgia Secretary of State’s Elections Advisory Committee will hold its third public hearing. The location is the City/County Government Center in Albany, in southwestern Georgia, at 222 Pine Avenue, Room 100. The hearing starts at 10 a.m.

The Elections Advisory Committee is holding hearings to give the public a chance to suggest improvements in Georgia election laws. The committee holds a hearing once per month. There will also be a hearing in Augusta on July 19, at the Julian Smith Building at Lake Olmstead Park, 2200 Broad Street, also at 10 a.m. Thanks to Garland Favorito for this news.