California Libertarians have set up a phone bank to ask voters to vote “No” on Proposition 14, the top-two ballot measure that is on the June 8 ballot. The volunteers have already made 2,000 phone calls, according to Libertarian office manager Beau Cain. It is not clear if that means 2,000 numbers were dialed, or whether it means 2,000 conversations have actually taken place.
Congress has many interesting election law bills, but during the last two weeks, only one of them gained any co-sponsors. HB 1826, for public funding of congressional candidates, did gain two co-sponsors during mid-May, and now has 151.
Bills that didn’t gain any co-sponsors in the last two weeks include HR 3335, to let ex-felons register to vote for federal elections; HB 4918, to provide for transparency when state legislature redistrict U.S. House boundaries; HR 3957, for same-day voter registration in federal elections; HR 2894, on vote-counting equipment; and HR 3025, to require states to use bipartisan bodies to redraw U.S. House boundaries.
The most dramatic election law-related change that might pass this year is HR 2499, to provide for a vote on Puerto Rico’s status. See this interesting column by John Fund in the Wall Street Journal of May 13. HR 2499 already passed the House but there seems little news on what the U.S. Senate will do.
The Arizona Republic has this story about the May 21 decision of the 9th circuit that upholds Arizona’s public funding law. The story also reveals that opponents of the law will be asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case.
The May 22 issue of the Paradise (California) Post has this editorial opposing Proposition 14, the top-two measure. The editorial asks why shrinking the number of candidates down to just two could possibly be described as “increasing choice.”
Paradise is in Butte County, the northern county that also includes Chico and Oroville.
Firedoglake has this detailed analysis of California’s Proposition 14, the top-two ballot measure in the June 8, 2010 primary. Firedoglake was founded in 2004 by Jane Hamsher, and has received award for being one of the best political blogs. It now has 20 writers. This particular analysis is by Jon Walker. Thanks to Rob Richie for the link.
