The exit polls on February 5 will tally the vote for 7 Republican presidential candidates, and 4 Democratic candidates. The 7 Republicans are: Giuliani, Huckabee, Hunter, McCain, Paul, Romney, and Thompson. The 4 Democrats are: Clinton, Edwards, Kucinich, and Obama. Although Hunter and Thompson have withdrawn, their names remains on the ballot in most states that vote on February 5.
The New Hampshire Secretary of State webpage has posted results of the partial Democratic presidential primary recount. See here. The recount was requested by Dennis Kucinich. He only requested a recount in the state’s two largest counties. Even in those two counties, some towns were not recounted because Kucinich was unable or unwilling to pay for the entire recount.
The recount results are somewhat difficult to summarize, because of the large number of candidates (22) on the Democratic presidential primary ballot.
Vermont S. 108, which would provide that Instant-Runoff voting be used in congressional general elections, is likely to advance during the first half of February. The bill passed the Senate last year, and also the House policy committee last year. It will probably pass the House fiscal committee during the first ten days in February, and is also expected to pass the full House.
No state has ever used Instant Runoff-Voting in a statewide general election in U.S. history, so if this bill passes, it will be historic. IRV was used long ago in a few states for statewide primaries.
On January 23, Libertarian Party of Tennessee v Thompson was filed. It is case 3:08cv-63 in U.S. District Court in Nashville, and was assigned by Judge William J. Haynes, a Clinton appointee.
The Washington House Government Committee heard testimony on HB 1534, a bill to improve ballot access for minor parties and independent candidates, on January 23. Eight people testified in favor, and no one testified against. The committee seemed favorably disposed. The final bill still is being drafted.
