On March 11, the Alabama House Constitution & Elections Committee passed HB 265. It would provide that the number of electoral votes received by any presidential candidate would be in proportion to that candidate’s share of the popular vote inside Alabama. Thus, since Alabama has 9 electoral votes, a presidential candidate who got 33% of the popular vote in Alabama would get 3 electoral votes from Alabama.

The bill passed on a party line vote, 5-4, with all Democrats supporting the bill and all Republicans opposed. Alabama has a Democratic majority in each house of the legislature, but the Governor, Bob Riley, is a Republican.

On March 11, the Arkansas House State Agencies & Government Affairs committee defeated two election law bills by Representative Richard Carroll. HB 1247 would have changed the definition of “political party”, and HB 1863 would have required inclusive debates when taxpayer resources are being used to host or sponsor those debates. It is possible the debates bill can be revived, after some amendments.

On March 9, the U.S. Supreme Court limited the scope of the federal Voting Rights Act, in matters of redrawing legislative districts to assist racial and ethnic minorities. This New York Times editorial explains the decision and also expresses disagreement with the decision. The vote was 5-4. The case was Bartlett v Strickland, 07-689. It had been argued on October 14, 2008. The Court took almost five months to write and release the opinion.