On Saturday, April 20, the House voted in favor of providing financial assistance to Ukraine. All Democrats voted for the bill. Republicans were split, but most Republicans (112) voted against the bill. The bill was H.R. 8035.
States in which independent voters were able to vote in 2022 Republican primaries elected 84 of the Republicans who voted “no.” States in which independents couldn’t vote in 2022 Republican primaries elected only 28 of the Republicans who voted “no.”
On April 23, the Alabama Senate unanimously passed SB 324, which moves the deadline for qualified parties to certify the names of their presidential nominees from 82 to 74 days before the November election. It also moves the petition deadline for independent candidates to the same date, 74 days before the general election. The bill can be seen here. It seems to be a permanent improvement; it doesn’t say it only applies to the 2024 election.
O April 10, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs signed HB 2474, which says petitions to recognize a new party must be completed within two years.
The Federal Election Commission compiles a book every year that gives the contact information for each state’s elections office. It is the “Combined Federal/State Disclosure and Election Directory.” One can see the new version on-line at this link. Thanks to Thomas Jones for this news.
Here is a short news story about the Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. independent presidential petition drive in Amarillo, Texas. Now that No Labels has dropped out, Kennedy’s petition is apparently the only Texas statewide candidate petition circulating. As far as is known, no party is attempting the Texas party petition this year. The Libertarian and Green Parties are already on the ballot.
