U.S. District Court Judge Raymond Dearie will hear oral arguments in Credico v New York State Board of Elections, cv10-4555 (southern district) on October 19, Tuesday, at 3 p.m.  This is the case that challenges a New York state law that allows a candidate nominated by two qualified parties to be listed on the ballot twice, and also allows a candidate nominated by one qualified party and one unqualified party to also be listed on the ballot twice, yet won’t list a candidate twice who has been nominated by two unqualified parties.

On October 7, an en banc panel of the 9th circuit ruled that the federal Voting Rights Act cannot be used to overturn a state’s restriction on felon or ex-felon voting, unless the plaintiffs can demonstrate that the particular state passed the restriction on felon or ex-felon voting with the intent to discriminate against racial or ethnic minorities.  See the per curiam opinion here.  It is only 7 pages long.  Thanks to ElectionLawBlog for this news.  There are also some longer concurring opinions.

On January 5, 2010, the original 9th circuit panel had ruled 2-1 that the Voting Rights Act can be used to overturn Washington state’s ban on felons and certain ex-felons, but that earlier opinion is now reversed.  The case is Farrakhan v Gregoire, 06-35669.

Carey Campbell of Virginia is organizing a committee to draft Michael Bloomberg for president.  See this press release.