On February 18, the South Dakota House passed HB 1234 by a vote of 52-17. It moves the independent candidate petition deadline from June to April.
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Thirteen Arizona legislators have introduced HB 2579, which provides that independent voters may vote in any party’s presidential primary, unless that particular party tells the Secretary of State at least 85 days in advance of the presidential primary that it doesn’t wish to let independent voters vote in its presidential primary.
On February 4, Arkansas HB 1021 was signed into law by Governor Mike Beebe. It moves the presidential primary from February to May.
On February 17, a U.S. District Court in Wisconsin struck down three State Supreme Court rules: (1) a prohibition on a state judge being a member of a party; (2) a prohibition on a judge endorsing a candidate in a partisan election; (3) a prohibition on a judge personally asking anyone for a campaign contribution.
Wisconsin elects its state court judges with non-partisan elections. The decision emphasizes that the state is free to continue using this system. The case is Siefert v Alexander, 08-cv-126, w.d. The decision is 65 pages and can be read on the webpage of the James Madison Center, www.jamesmadison.org. Choose “Judicial accountability project” on the left-hand menu, and then choose “Siefert v Alexander”. Thanks to Rick Hasen for this news.
On February 17, the Vermont Senate Government Operations Committee passed S.34, the National Popular Vote bill. The Vermont legislature passed this bill last year, but the Governor vetoed it.
The National Popular Vote bill has also been introduced in Oklahoma. The bill is HB 2207, by Rep. Ryan Kiesel (D-Seminole).