On March 29, this reply brief was filed with the U.S. Supreme Court in Citizens for Police Accountability Political Committee v Browning, 09-861. The issue is whether Florida is violating the Constitution by letting exit pollsters station themselves within 25 feet of a polling place on election day, but refusing to let petitioners closer than 100 feet. Both groups only wish to talk to voters who are exiting the polling place.

The U.S. Supreme Court will probably decide whether to hear this case within the next three weeks. This reply brief is ten pages of text and is interesting reading. It is in response to the state’s March 19 brief, which is here.

The Gotham Gazette has this article, which explains that the New York city Board of Elections has been without an executive director since January, just as it is charged with using entirely new vote-counting equipment in this year’s elections. The story also explains how the Board has become a patronage plum for the Democratic and Republican Parties. Thanks to Gail Robinson for the link.

On March 29, Louisiana state representative Joel Robideaux was elected Speaker Pro Tempore of the State House. Robideaux is an independent. He defeated Noble Ellington, a Democrat, by a vote of 53-48. Speaker Pro Tempore is the second most powerful position in the Louisiana House, after Speaker. Thanks to Randall Hayes for this news.