On October 22, a Marist poll was released for the New York city Mayoral election. It shows Mike Bloomberg (Republican, Independence) at 52%, William Thompson (Democratic, Working Families) at 36%, “Other” at 7%, and undecided at 5%. See this story.
On October 16, the major TV networks, and the Associated Press, filed a federal lawsuit to regain the ability to post exit pollsters near New Jersey polling places. The case has a hearing on October 23 at 10 a.m. in U.S. District Court in Trenton. Recently the State Supreme Court of New Jersey had issued an opinion that says even exit pollsters are not immune from the state law that forbids electioneering within 100 feet of the polls on election day. That had been the first court decision to rule against exit polling. The federal case is moving quickly because exit pollsters wish to work on November 3, 2009, in the gubernatorial election.
A Rutgers Poll released October 22 shows New Jersey independent gubernatorial candidate Chris Daggett at 20% support. See this story.
On October 13, the Voting Rights Section of the U.S. Justice Department granted approval to Arizona’s new law that requires all cities in the state to use non-partisan elections for their own officers. However, there is still no certainty that Tucson (the only city in Arizona that has been using partisan elections) will be required to switch to non-partisan elections. The city is in state court, arguing that the law violates the Arizona Constitution. The judge in that case has already signed an order, letting the city’s 2009 election be run under the old, original partisan election method.
The Justice Department’s action contrasts with its action in August 2009, of not permitting the city of Kinston, North Carolina, to switch from partisan city elections to non-partisan city elections. That decision has received much attention in the last week, because Rush Limbaugh and the Washington Times publicized it. Kinston city officials are free to ask the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., to override the Justice Department, but they have not done so.
On October 13, the Voting Rights Section of the U.S. Justice Department granted approval to Arizona’s new law that requires all cities in the state to use non-partisan elections for their own officers. However, there is still no certainty that Tucson (the only city in Arizona that has been using partisan elections) will be required to switch to non-partisan elections. The city is in state court, arguing that the law violates the Arizona Constitution. The judge in that case has already signed an order, letting the city’s 2009 election be run under the old, original partisan election method.
The Justice Department’s action contrasts with its action in August 2009, of not permitting the city of Kinston, North Carolina, to switch from partisan city elections to non-partisan city elections. That decision has received much attention in the last week, because Rush Limbaugh and the Washington Times publicized it. Kinston city officials are free to ask the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., to override the Justice Department, but they have not done so.
