On January 13, the U.S. Supreme Court requested the Texas Democratic Party to file a response in Dallas County v Texas Democratic Party, 10-755. This tends to show that the Court is somewhat interested in the case, and is thinking about accepting it. The issue is whether Dallas County was required to ask for approval from the Voting Rights Section of the U.S. Justice Department when it purchased a different kind of vote-counting machine. The Democratic Party did not like the new machine because it seemed to increase the odds that voters would leave the polling place, thinking they had voted in all partisan races, and yet actually having voted in only a single partisan race.

The lower court had ruled that the voting machine change did require approval from the Voting Rights Section.

Washington State Senator Craig Pridemore (D-Vancouver) has introduced SB 5119. It would abolish the presidential primary for 2012. In 2008, the Washington presidential primary was on February 19. The bill was introduced at the request of the Secretary of State. The Governor also supports the bill, because abolishing the presidential primary would save taxpayer dollars. Thanks to Josh Putnam of Frontloading HQ for this news. Frontloading HQ is the premier news source for news about state legislative bills that affect presidential primaries.

Arizona Representative John Kavanagh (R-Fountain Hills) has introduced HCR 2005. It would require initiative proponents to obtain at least half their signatures from circulators who were not being paid. See this story. The bill would probably be held unconstitutional if it were passed by the legislature and then by the voters. In 1988, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that states cannot bar paid circulators.

By analogy, in 1978, a U.S. District Court struck down Maryland’s March petition deadline for independent and minor party candidates. The legislature then passed a new law, saying one-third of the signatures for a minor party or independent candidate had to be submitted by the same March deadline, but that the remainder were not due until August. Another U.S. District Court in 1980 struck that law down as well, and the 4th circuit affirmed. Thanks to Ballot Box News for the link.