The U.S. Supreme Court released two opinions today, but the election law case was not decided. Citizens United v FEC will be re-argued on September 9, 2009. The Court wants both sides to argue whether the Court should overrule Austin v Michigan State Chamber of Commerce and McConnell v Federal Election Commission. Austin v Michigan State Chamber of Commerce was decided in 1990 and said that the federal government may prohibit corporations from using treasury funds to support or oppose candidates in elections. McConnell v Federal Election Commission was decided in 2003 and upheld a ban on corporations using treasury funds to pay for any broadcast ad that mentions a candidate for federal office within 60 days of an election.

On June 26, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine signed A3902 into law. It alters election laws and campaign finance laws to take account of the fact that New Jersey is electing a Lieutenant Governor this year for the first time. Gubernatorial candidates choose their own Lieutenant Governor running mates, and each gubernatorial candidate must make that choice no later than July 26. The law requires the certification 30 days after the primary results were certified, and they were certified June 26.

The only two minor parties running gubernatorial candidates in New Jersey this year are the Libertarian and Socialist Parties.

The June 23 issue of the Seattle Times has this editorial. The Times always has supported “top-two”, but this editorial admits the system has problems. The editorial was stimulated by Krist Novoselic’s earlier candidacy for County Clerk of Wahkiakum County with the “prefers Grange Party” label.