Pennsylvania Representative Kerry Benninghoff’s bill to reform Pennsylvania ballot access is still not in print, but he has revealed some details of the bill. He would permit anyone to get on any ballot (primary or general) with a filing fee alternative to the existing petition requirement. He proposes that the fee would match the number of signatures, using the formula of one dollar equaling one petition signature. However, he would set a cap on the maximum fee. He has not decided on the amount of that cap, but it would probably range between $2,000 and $4,000. Of course, candidates who do not wish to pay that fee would still have the petition alternative.

On December 26, Michigan Democratic Party activist Martha Hayes filed this strong brief in U.S. District Court, in her lawsuit to stop the Michigan Democratic presidential primary. The case is Hayes v Michigan Democratic Party and the Michigan Secretary of State, 1:07-cv-1237. The lawsuit assumes that the Democratic National Committee was within its rights to tell the Michigan Democratic Party not to hold a primary in violation of the national party rules. Therefore, the lawsuit alleges that the state Democratic Party and the state of Michigan are responsible for the inability of Michigan Democrats to elect delegates to the national convention.

This case is very similar to the Florida case called Ausman v Browning, which has a hearing in federal court in Florida on January 3. The Michigan case doesn’t have a court date yet, but such a court date will probably be set within the next 48 hours. Thanks to Thomas Jones for this news.

The voters of Santa Fe, New Mexico, will vote on March 4 on whether to amend the city charter, to use Instant-Runoff Voting for elections for city officers. The amendment would take effect in 2010 if the vote-counting machines can handle IRV by then.