On June 2, Brian Moore (Socialist Party presidential candidate) won injunctive relief from U.S. District Court in Columbus, against an Ohio law that requires independent candidate petition circulators to be registered voters in Ohio. Moore v Brunner, southern dist., 2:08cv-224.

Although the law has not yet been declared unconstitutional, while that part of the case is pending, any adult may circulate an independent candidate petition in Ohio. Ohio tried to persuade the judge that even if he issued an injunction against the registration requirement, he should still let the state bar out-of-state residents from circulating an independent candidate petition. But the judge rejected the state’s plea. Although a theoretical in-state residency requirement might be constitutional, the judge said, Ohio has no such law on the books. It only has the law requiring registration for circulators. Thanks to law professor Mark R. Brown, who is doing this case pro bono.

Public Policy Polling released these results on June 2, showing the North Carolina general election presidential race. They show two hypotheticals, with each Democratic possibility: John McCain 43%, Barack Obama 40%, Bob Barr 6%, undecided and other 11%; and alternatively, John McCain 39%, Hillary Clinton 34%, Bob Barr 6%; undecided and other 21%.

It isn’t likely that anyone other than the mentioned candidates will appear on the North Carolina ballot, although North Carolina permits write-ins. Thanks to Political Wire for this link.

On May 30, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, a Democrat, vetoed HB 1406. The bill would have imposed restrictions on initiative petitioners. It would have banned paid circulators who are not residents of Colorado. It also would have required paid circulators to give an accurate explanation of the initiative they are circulating. Governor Ritter said he believes it would violate the U.S. Constitution to have different rules for paid circulators than for unpaid circulators. It is very unusual for Democratic Governors to be more supportive of the initiative process than a state legislature as a whole. Generally, when bills restricting the initiative process are vetoed, it is Republican Governors who veto them. HB 1406 had been introduced in April and had passed the legislature on May 6. Thanks to Ballotpedia for this news.