A SurveyUSA poll of the California gubernatorial race, released September 22, shows these results:  Democrat Jerry Brown 46%; Republican Meg Whitman 43%; “other” 8%; undecided 3%.  The other candidates on the ballot are the nominees of the American Independent, Green, Libertarian, and Peace & Freedom Parties.  The poll shows that 11% of the independents, and 9% of the Republicans, are for “other”, whereas only 5% of the Democrats are for “other.”

A Field Poll released on September 23 lumps “other” and “undecided” into the same category, which is not helpful.  It shows “undecided/other” at 18%.  Brown and Whitman in this poll are each at 41%.

California press has been slow to cover any of the four ballot-listed minor party candidates.  Even Chelene Nightingale’s 190-mile trek up the San Joaquin Valley did not get covered in any daily newspaper, even though it was covered in alternate sources.  See here.  Thanks toIndependentPoliticalReport for that link.  UPDATE:  apparently the walk did get covered in some daily newspapers; thanks to Gary Odom’s comment for the correction.

On September 21, the 9th circuit held oral arguments in Farrakhan v Gregoire, 06-35669.  This was an en banc rehearing with eleven judges participating.  This article seems to feel the decision could go either way.  The issue is whether the federal Voting Rights Act can ever be used to overcome a state’s ban on ex-felons and felons voting.

The same issue is pending before the U.S. Supreme Court, in a case from Massachusetts called Simmons v Galvin.  The U.S. Supreme Court may wait for the 9th circuit opinion before it decides whether to hear the Massachusetts case.  If the en banc panel of the 9th circuit reaffirms the earlier decision of that circuit’s 3-judge panel, then there will be a split in the circuits.  The Massachusetts decision had been 2-1 against the idea that the Voting Rights Act can be used against state laws on ex-felon and felon voting.

Much recent evidence on both sides in the lawsuit against “top-two” in Washington state can be seen at the Washington Secretary of State’s web page.  See here.  The most recent documents are at the bottom.  Because the case is over five years old, the list of documents is very long.  To see the newest evidence, scroll down to the bottom.  The case is Washington State Republican Party v Washington State Grange/State of Washington, cv05-927.